Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Solicitor-General how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in the Law Officers' Departments in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Details on the use of laptop computers by the Law Officers' Departments between 1995–96 and 2004–05 are given, where available, in the following table. Details have not always been held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain for the periods not available.
	Laptop computers have facilitated greater flexibility of working for all staff and are particularly useful for prosecutors working out of office at police stations and courts.
	
		Law Officers' Department use of laptop computers
		
			   Attorney General's Office(1) Treasury Solicitors Department 
			  Ministers Officials  Officials 
			  Number Number £ Number £ 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a n/a 5 2,025 
			 1999–2000 0 9  5 2,025 
			 2000–01 0 2 1/2 11 4,149 
			 2001–02 9 2 17,235 32 14,897 
			 2002–03 2 4  76 42,341 
			 2003–04 2 4 1/2 96 53,960 
			 2004–05 4 2  107 60,658 
			 Lost and/or stolen(6) 0 0  4 stolen +2 lost since 
			 in period 2001–02 
		
	
	
		
			  Crown Prosecution Service(3) Revenue and Customs  Prosecutions Office(3) Serious Fraud Office 
			  Officials 
			  Number £ Number £ Number £ 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— n/a n/a 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— n/a n/a 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— n/a n/a 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— 21 n/a 
			 1999–2000 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— 22 n/a 
			 2000–01 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— 16 n/a 
			 2001–02 n/a n/a (3)(5)— (3)(5)— 90 n/a 
			 2002–03 449 102,704 (3)(5)— (3)(5)— 122 n/a 
			 2003–04 899 454,158 10 10,000 357 n/a 
			 2004–05 967 714,644 10  337 n/a 
			 Lost and/or stolen(6) in period 20 since 2002–03 0 since 2003–04 3 since 1999–2000 
		
	
	(1) There are no special advisers
	(2) Figures for the CPS include HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. The CPS does not own laptop computers; since 2002, it has had a Public Finance Initiative contract for IT equipment under which a monthly charge is made for laptops.
	(3) RCPO was established in April 2005. Previously, as the Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office it owned the laptops identified in the table. It also had the use of some 17 laptops provided by HM Customs and Excise and the latter provision is included in the response for HM Revenue and Customs.
	(4) Laptops not in use.
	(5) RCPO and CEPO, its predecessor, not established
	(6) Records do not differentiate between laptops which are lost or stolen, except where specified

Stipends

Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if the Church Commissioners will make it their policy to withhold the payment of stipends to clergymen and clergywomen who do not believe in God.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have no power to withhold stipends paid by or through them on the grounds of a cleric's beliefs.

Individual Registration

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what research the Electoral Commission has conducted into the effect of individual registration on the electoral roll.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has published several research reports and updates on the impact of individual registration on overall levels of registration in Northern Ireland, the only part of the United Kingdom where there is individual registration at present. All of the Commission's reports, including the 2002 report "The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002: An assessment of its first year in operation", are available on its website. The Commission is also currently undertaking research that will provide a better understanding of the extent and nature of under-registration across Great Britain.

Digital Television

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the switchover from analogue to digital television to take place in the Border Television region; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: As we said in our manifesto, we will achieve digital switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high-quality, free-to-view and subscription digital TV. This will happen region by region, and we will make sure that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected.
	The indicative regional order published by Ofcom in February suggests that Border will be the first region to switch. The Government will confirm the region-by-region timetable in due course.

National Lottery

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been provided from National Lottery funds to support the development of (a) netball, (b) tennis, (c) football, (d) rugby union, (e) rugby league, (f) cricket and (g) motor sport in England in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: Lottery funding to support the development of sport in England is distributed primarily through Sport England. The Big Lottery Fund also administers lottery grants to individual sports through the Awards for All programmes. Details of this funding over the last five years can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			  Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England 
		
		
			 Netball 269,674 1,856,225 283,745 4,334,320 625,746 3,278,965 
			 Tennis (including real and lawn) 410,320 4,484,174 384,488 11,898,237 816,571 10,703,470 
			 Football 1,836,937 5,568,920 1,705,632 26,218,174 3,390,823 9,281,074 
			 Rugby Union 355,904 2,360,269 525,488 2,566,082 763,260 5,393,585 
			 Rugby League 370,728 1,981,519 216,828 4,193,472 398,774 683,171 
			 Cricket 1,341,312 22,197,439 1,695,650 5,919,613 2,366,232 13,702,207 
			 Motor sport 7,945 16,051 21,148 — 17,806 — 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			  2003–04 2004–05 
			  Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England 
		
		
			 Netball 639,760 2,185,632 174,479 1,143,214 
			 Tennis (including real and lawn) 586,657 3,478,419 261,675 — 
			 Football 3,252,416 7,092,736 1,598,545 2,095,669 
			 Rugby Union 558,827 3,607,813 153,500 150,000 
			 Rugby League 389,282 5,695,815 147,124 — 
			 Cricket 1,840,244 9,010,458 661,856 1,822,875 
			 Motor sport 10,000 — — — 
		
	
	Further lottery grants from Sport England were made through World Class Funding and through Whole Sport Plans (2004–05):
	
		
			   £ 
			  Sport World Class Funding (overall)  Whole Sport Plans 
		
		
			 Netball 9,258,470 500,000 
			 Tennis 500,000 500,000 
			 Football 500,000 500,000 
			 Rugby Union 13,512,908 1,000,000 
			 Rugby League 5,437,347 410,000 
			 Cricket 6,862,528 500,000 
			 Motor Sport — — 
		
	
	And additionally, a large number of the multi-sport projects Sport England has funded have benefited these sports. Since 1 April 2000, Sport England has awarded £364,201,963 to multi-sport projects.

Licensing Act

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of amateur sports clubs which might have to pay more to operate as licensed premises following the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: We do not have figures for the numbers of sports clubs in particular that hold full justices' on-licences or club registration certificates. However, at 30 June 2004 there were 19,913 registered clubs in England and Wales. This number also includes political, ex-services, working men's and other clubs as well as Miners' Welfare Institutes.
	It should be noted that sports clubs do not just pay the fee of £16 now for a registration certificate allowing them to supply alcohol. Those that obtain permanent extensions for their bars, must pay an additional £25 for their special hours certificate. To obtain such a certificate, the club must first obtain a "certificate of suitability" from its local authority. This is essentially the same as a public entertainment licence and costs vary between local authority areas from £50 to £500 annually. Those clubs without permanent extensions of hours but which open their bars later for special occasions like Christmas and other holiday dances and functions, weddings, anniversaries or during periods like World Cups abroad, must pay for each permission to extend their hours. These are "occasional permissions" and "special orders of exemption". Each costs the club £10 and many clubs will have as many as 12 per year. All of this and the bureaucracy involved is swept away by the 2003 Act. Under the new licensing regime, the fee of between £100-£635 will cover all the activities and hours involved, and the majority of sports clubs will pay no more than £100, and £70 annually thereafter.
	The new fees are intended to do no more than recover the licensing authorities' (local authorities') costs of administration, inspection and enforcement.

Licensing Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the number of applications for licences under the Licensing Act 2003 received by licensing authorities by 30 June; what percentage of the projected total those represent; what proportion have applied for a variation; and what proportion have applied for an entertainments licence.

James Purnell: As at 30 June we estimate that approximately 47,500 applications for premises licences and club premises certificates under the Licensing Act 2003 have been made. This represents approximately 25 per cent. of existing licensed premises and registered clubs. We would expect 65 per cent. of these applications to involve variations. We have no estimate of the number of applications that will have included regulated entertainment as a licensable activity.

Opera

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport If she will take further steps to make opera more accessible to wider audiences; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: Government support for opera is channelled through Arts Council England (ACE). All of the opera organisations funded by the Arts Council have policies in place to improve access to a wider and more diverse audience including ticket pricing policies, touring and the work of their education departments.

Radio Station (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide support for a radio station for Chorley; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Planning, licensing and regulation of independent radio in the UK is a matter for the independent regulator, Ofcom.
	My Department has made £0.5 million available for community radio for each of the years to 2007–08. The fund will be handled by Ofcom, who will take decisions on allocation in due course.

Sports England

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding was allocated to Sport England by her Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) Government region and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Exchequer funding allocated to Sport England by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport can be broken down by Government region. This is shown in the following table:
	
		Regional costs 1997–2004c £
		
			  Financial year 
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Northern 1,131,020 1,114,129 548,850 799,755 
			 Yorkshire 1,303,919 1,272,570 740,530 1,102,934 
			 East Midlands 1,262,237 1,242,020 772,700 1,017,987 
			 Eastern 1,289,334 1,236,528 748,250 931,789 
			 London 1,494,021 1,118,350 487,372 819,746 
			 South-east 1,078,175 1,053,715 475,528 810,109 
			 Southern(7) 1,080,764 1,208,279 493,871 945,355 
			 South-west 1,164,165 1,227,023 607,950 813,456 
			 West Midlands 1,193,329 1,301,333 733,750 1,122,526 
			 North-west 1,359,291 1,412,961 759,320 1,262,145 
			 Total costs 12,356,255 12,186,908 6,368,121 9,625,802 
			  
			 Out of a total  funding of: 15,700,000 33,700,000 33,500,000 34,500,000 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			  Financial year 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Northern 845,203 767,043 801,011 616,522 
			 Yorkshire 929,366 1,101,121 1,026,042 589,873 
			 East Midlands 923,216 865,806 765,791 554,271 
			 Eastern 897,524 780,252 580,779 415,681 
			 London 1,035,734 1,251,373 959,769 615,197 
			 South-east 741,993 1,533,149 1,242,907 777,329 
			 Southern(7) 967,330 0 0 0 
			 South-west 948,582 917,756 844,576 585,641 
			 West Midlands 982,481 1,006,831 1,032,574 636,513 
			 North-west 1,204,827 1,343,257 1,211,431 634,001 
			 Total costs 9,476,254 9,566,589 8,464,881 5,425,029 
			  
			 Out of a total  funding of 34,500,000 34,500,000 34,725,000 39,475,000 
		
	
	(7) Sport England no longer recognise a separate Southern region.
	Note:
	These are the total regional costs delivered locally, it excludes any nationally delivered regional programmes.
	It is not possible to provide figures on funding allocated to Sport England by parliamentary constituency.

Television Licence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in Hampshire have been prosecuted for not having a television licence in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: The data collected by the Home Office relates to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. The number of people proceeded against for such offences at magistrates courts in Hampshire in each of the last five years for which information is available was:
	
		
			  Proceeded against(8) 
		
		
			 1999 1,728 
			 2000 3,968 
			 2001 3,282 
			 2002 2,110 
			 2003 1,814 
		
	
	(8) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Television Licence

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many prosecutions for failure to pay the TV licence fee there have been in each year since 2000.

James Purnell: The data available relates to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967 in England and Wales, and to all offences under the 1949 Act in Scotland, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. The number of people proceeded against for such offences in England, Scotland and Wales, in each year since 2000 for which information is available, was:
	
		
			  Proceeded against(9)(10) 
		
		
			 2000 123,153 
			 2001 97,877 
			 2002 111,671 
			 2003 95,380 
		
	
	(9) Figures for Northern Ireland are not available.
	(10) On the principal offence basis.

Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1010W, and to the letter of 1 March from the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.

Car Audio Systems

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions were made in relation to waste from car audio systems under (a) Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and (b) other legislation in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	No data is available for prosecutions related to noise from car audio systems. Data is only available for noise offences committed against the Road Use (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in total. In addition to Regulation 97, this would also include offences against Regulations 54 to 58 that prohibit excessive noise from modified or poorly maintained exhaust systems and silencers. On this basis, the number of fixed penalty notices issued and prosecutions recorded by the Home Office during 2003 in England and Wales were as follows:
	
		Fixed penalty notices and court proceedings for aiding, abetting, causing or permitting noise offences(11), England and Wales, 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Fixed penalty notices issued 1,262 
			 Total proceeded against 2,653 
			 Total findings of guilt 1,808 
		
	
	(11) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 54–58, 97–99.

Food Subsidy

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subsidy was applied to food production in (a) the UK and (b) the EU in each year between 1999 and 2004, broken down by commodity.

Jim Knight: The tables show the value of subsidies that are directly linked to production of commodities as recorded by Eurostat in the Economic Accounts for Agriculture, for the EU 15 countries and the United Kingdom. They also show the value of other subsidies which are not linked to production but from which farmers have benefited as a consequence of engaging in production.
	The figures provided in the table exclude public expenditure on market support measures (e.g. export refunds, intervention) and they also exclude payments which, according to national accounts conventions, are recorded as capital transfers (which for the UK means that these figures exclude the foot and mouth disease compensation payments of 2001).
	Further detail may be obtained from the Eurostat website at http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int.
	
		European Union (15 countries) € million
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(12) 
		
		
			 Crops   
			 Cereals (including wheat, barley, oats, rye) 10,673.0 11,821.0 12,325.9 12,703.8 12,298.0 12,761.3 
			 Industrial crops (including rape seed, sugar beet) 5,050.0 4,410.5 3,874.8 3,448.1 3,462.4 3,480.1 
			 Forage plants 822.0 923.3 1,042.4 1,027.9 1,065.7 1,021.3 
			 Other crop products (including olive oil, vegetables,  horticultural products, seeds) 2,544.8 2,587.7 2,610.4 2,802.9 2,691.7 2,673.5 
			 Total subsidies linked to crop output 19,089.8 19,742.5 19,853.5 19,982.7 19,517.8 19,936.1 
			
			 Animals and animal products   
			 Cattle 4,291.2 5,241.7 5,798.4 6,708.5 6,972.6 7,171.4 
			 Pigs 199.7 61.0 50.2 48.3 51.2 53.4 
			 Sheep and goats 1,926.0 1,614.4 1,029.6 1,628.5 1,688.1 1,703.4 
			 Other animals 48.2 21.8 21.6 22.0 21.0 18.9 
			 Animal products (including milk) 264.9 300.5 382.7 254.0 243.9 1,329.9 
			 Total subsidies linked to animal output 6,729.9 7,239.4 7,282.4 8,661.2 8,976.7 10,276.9 
			
			 Total subsidies linked to production 25,819.7 26,981.9 27,135.9 28,644.0 28,494.6 30,213.1 
			 Other subsidies, not linked to production 10,473.8 10,620.9 12,713.8 12,963.3 14,215.6 13,326.5 
			
			 Total subsidies 36,293.6 37,602.8 39,849.7 41,607.3 42,710.2 43,539.6 
		
	
	(12) Provisional.
	Source:
	http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int
	
		United Kingdom € million
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(13) 
		
		
			 Crops   
			 Cereals (including wheat, barley, oats, rye) 1,069.6 1,200.4 1,024.5 1,153.3 1,053.2 1,056.5 
			 Industrial crops (including rape seed, sugar beet) 435.9 241.5 187.8 135.3 178.1 200.8 
			 Forage plants 103.5 93.6 110.5 112.6 103.1 104.6 
			 Other crop products (including olive oil, vegetables,  horticultural products, seeds) 15.6 12.3 11.8 10.7 9.2 7.9 
			 Total subsidies linked to crop output 1,624.6 1,547.8 1,334.6 1,411.9 1,343.5 1,369.7 
			
			 Animals and animal products   
			 Cattle 1,369.2 1,475.6 1,335.9 1,477.3 1,399.0 1,536.7 
			 Pigs 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Sheep and goats 621.8 553.1 295.2 451.4 413.4 465.4 
			 Other animals 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Animal products (including milk) 0.0 36.1 127.0 0.0 0.0 161.4 
			 Total subsidies linked to animal output 1,991.0 2,064.8 1,758.1 1,928.7 1,812.4 2,163.5 
			
			 Total subsidies linked to production 3,615.6 3,612.6 3,092.7 3,340.6 3,155.9 3,533.2 
			 Other subsidies, not linked to production 483.1 507.9 909.8 944.1 900.4 912.3 
			 Total subsidies 4,098.7 4,120.5 4,002.6 4,284.6 4,056.3 4,445.6 
		
	
	(13) Provisional.
	Source:
	http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int

Hedgehogs/Badgers

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether there is a correlation between the decline in the hedgehog population and the increase in badger numbers; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 July 2005
	Mammals such as badgers and hedgehogs interact in a complex manner in the countryside. Badgers' main food source is earthworms but they will consume a wide variety of foods such as invertebrates, plant roots, fruits, cereals, animal carcasses, stored livestock feed and sometimes hedgehogs when conditions limit the source of earthworms.
	Long term data on hedgehog populations, over the period covering the badger population increase, would be required in order to answer the above question. Such a dataset does not exist, therefore it is not possible to conclude that badger population increase is the cause of a hedgehog population decline.
	Research is being carried out to obtain a greater understanding of these interactions. The Central Science Laboratory is conducting a replicated experimental assessment of the ecological consequences of badger removal within the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. The research includes estimating the abundance of hedgehog populations in selected regions of south-west England. Unpublished data from this research suggests that hedgehogs were less likely to be present in areas where badger sett density was high. Additionally, hedgehog numbers tended to increase when badgers were removed, suggesting that a relationship exists between badger density and hedgehog populations. It is hoped further analyses will reveal more on the nature of what is likely to be a complex relationship.

Hill Farmers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure the economic survival of hill farmers in England.

Jim Knight: Farmers in the English uplands currently receive in excess of £180 million in CAP payments. In 2006 they will continue to be eligible for schemes under the England Rural Development Programme such as Environmental Stewardship and the Hill Farm Allowance, as well as the Single Payment Scheme.
	The Secretary of State gave a commitment on 22 April 2004 to consider how upland communities could receive appropriate support from rural development funds. Future arrangements are currently being reviewed in the context of the new EU Rural Development Regulation which will come into effect in 2007.

Llancloudy

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1643W, on Llancloudy, if she will ensure that no route for removal of waste from Hill Farm Llancloudy is agreed before her officials meet the hon. Member for Hereford and a representative of the Llancloudy Residents Association; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I can assure the hon. Member for Hereford that my officials will not finalise agreement on the route for the removal of waste from Hill Farm, Llancloudy until they have met with the hon. Member and a representative of the Residents Association. My officials will be in contact with the hon. Member's office to arrange a mutually convenient date for the meeting.

Rural Employment

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs have been created in rural areas in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) agricultural and (b) non-agricultural.

Jim Knight: Statistics on the creation of jobs are not collected by any Government Department in this format.
	The Labour Force Survey details the number of individuals in employment and can reliably be examined at local authority district level, though not at any smaller geographical scale. It is not therefore possible to give a definitive breakdown of changes in employment levels between urban and rural areas within local authority districts.
	However, using the current Countryside Agency broad classification of rural and urban Districts, and recognising that 'rural districts' contain many urban areas and vice versa, employment levels are as follows (changes in the survey approach do not allow for comparison before 2000–01):
	
		
			  Total in employment 
			  Rural districts Urban districts All districts 
		
		
			 2000–01 6,672,461 16,057,031 22,729,492 
			 2001–02 6,741,084 16,234,694 22,975,778 
			 2002–03 6,774,135 16,294,254 23,068,389 
			 2003–04 6,845,578 16,397,862 23,243,440 
		
	
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, ONS
	As can be seen over this period, overall employment levels increased by 3 per cent. in rural districts and 2 per cent. in all other districts.
	The June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey records the labour force on all farms in England. Data are available since 1997 and the numbers of people employed in agriculture is as follows, again using the current Countryside Agency classification of rural and urban districts:
	
		
			  Rural districts Urban districts All districts 
		
		
			 1997 311,842 81,263 393,105 
			 1998 315,396 81,161 396,557 
			 1999 302,002 77,016 379,018 
			 2000 298,141 76,147 374,288 
			 2001 307,898 78,866 386,764 
			 2002 295,326 76,498 371,824 
			 2003 282,516 71,865 354,381 
			 2004 292,783 74,707 367,490 
		
	
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey, Defra
	These figures show that the labour force on agricultural holdings decreased by 6 per cent. between 1997 and 2004.
	Defra will very shortly publish a new urban/rural classification of local authorities districts which will enable a more detailed analysis of rural and urban statistical data. The tables included in this written answer will be recreated using the new classification when this is published and I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

Seal products

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy (a) to ban the importation of seal products into the United Kingdom and (b) to press for a similar ban in the EU.

Jim Knight: Council Directive 83/129/EEC (as amended by Council Directive 89/370/EEC) already imposes an EU-wide ban on the commercial import of certain seal skin products, including raw or tanned furskins, of whitecoat pups of harp seals and blueback pups of hooded seals. This Seals Directive is implemented in the UK by The Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996.
	We have been advised by the Commission that it does not currently see any scientific basis for proposing an extension of the Seals Directive. We agree with the Commission but will reconsider our position if new data shows that the levels of take by seal hunting are unsustainable and pose a conservation threat to either harp or hooded seals.

Trees

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase the number of native trees planted by the Forestry Commission; how many trees have been planted by Government agencies over the past 20 years in (a) England and (b) West Oxfordshire; and what targets to encourage the expansion of forests have been set.

Jim Knight: The Forestry Commission has embarked on a programme to restore 15,000 hectares of ancient semi-natural woodland on the public forest estate by 2020 and this will include planting and regenerating native tree species. In addition most new planting by the Commission, which is in the priority areas for improving the environment of disadvantaged urban communities, will be native broadleaves.
	In the recently published Action Plan for our new Statement of Policy for England's Ancient and Native Woodland there is a clear action to promote woodland creation which extends, buffers and links ancient woodland through both the English woodland grant scheme and environmental stewardship grants. In order to respect the biodiversity values of ancient woodland much of this type of woodland creation will involve the use of native species.
	Information on the number of trees planted by Government agencies is not recorded centrally. However, most new woodland planting is carried out by private landowners and is grant aided by the Forestry Commission. This has averaged over 4,600 hectares per year for the last 10 years and the majority of this planting has been with broadleaves and most of these have been-native species.
	Our policy for the expansion of forests and woodland is set out in the England Forestry. Strategy published in 1998. This seeks a continued steady expansion of our woodland area to provide more benefits for society and our environment. Within this policy we have established some short-term targets, for example the creation of 30,000 hectares of new woodland under the current (2000–06) England Rural Development Programme.

Medal Citations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how individuals can obtain details of citations accompanying medals awarded to deceased relatives.

Don Touhig: Individuals seeking details of citations for awards to relatives who are deceased should write to the honours and awards branch at the relevant service address:
	Royal Navy
	Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards)
	Room 157A
	Victory Building
	HM Naval Base
	Portsmouth
	PO1 3LS
	Army
	Military Secretary 1
	Block 7
	Wellington Barracks
	Birdcage Walk
	London
	SW1E 6HQ
	Royal Air Force
	MOD Medal Office
	Building 250
	RAF Innsworth
	Gloucester
	GL3 1HW
	Surviving records pre-1937, or pre-1939 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, are available in The National Archives at the following address:
	The National Archives
	Ruskin Avenue
	Kew
	Richmond
	Surrey
	TW9 4DU

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of (a) the Meteorological Office headquarters in Exeter and (b) the weather stations in (i) Aberdeen, (ii) Belfast, (iii) Birmingham, (iv) Cardiff, (v) London and (vi) Manchester.

Don Touhig: The Meteorological Office facility recently established at Exeter houses the HQ, operations and research centre (Hadley Centre). The operations centre provides a 24 hour, seven day capability for weather centre forecasting and for issuing severe weather warnings. The outputs are delivered in real time on a national and international basis.
	The future of civil forecasting at Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Manchester is the subject of current consultation by the Met Office. I will make a decision about the way ahead, taking full account of representations received, following the completion of consultation in autumn 2005.

Premature Voluntary Release

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) private soldiers of each Army regiment and corps have left under Premature Voluntary Release terms in each of the last three years.

Don Touhig: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The information is as follows:
	
		UK Regular Army trained officer Premature Voluntary Release exits (PVR)
		
			  PVR 
			 Arm/service 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Staff 40 40 50 
			 The Honourable Artillery Company/Royal Armoured Corps 30 30 40 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 30 30 30 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers 30 40 30 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 30 30 30 
			 The Infantry 90 100 120 
			 Army Air Corps 10 20 20 
			 Royal Army Chaplain's Department (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 60 60 70 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 20 30 20 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 30 30 30 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) (16)— 10 10 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 20 30 20 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch) 10 10 20 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Services Branch) (16)— 10 (16)— 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Small Arms School Corps (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Intelligence Corps 10 10 20 
			 Army Physical Training Corps (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 General List (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 20 10 20 
			 Corps of Army Music (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Total 440 500 530 
		
	
	
		UK Regular Army trained soldier Premature Voluntary Release exits (PVR)
		
			  PVR 
			 Arm/corps 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 The Honourable Artillery Company/Royal Armoured Corps 300 300 280 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 360 400 420 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers 470 490 620 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 420 380 440 
			 The Infantry 1,370 1,340 1,350 
			 Army Air Corps 80 60 90 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 730 670 640 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 90 80 110 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 340 400 450 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) 120 110 150 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 180 170 180 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps 10 10 (16)— 
			 Small Arms School Corps (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps 20 10 20 
			 Intelligence Corps 40 20 40 
			 Army Physical Training Corps 10 10 10 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 30 30 40 
			 Corps of Army Music 40 30 50 
			 Long Service List (16)— (16)— (16)— 
			 Total 4,610 4,500 4,880 
		
	
	(16) — represents zero, rounded to zero, or a percentage based upon a number rounded to or equal to zero.
	Notes:
	1. Data are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid systematic bias.
	3. Totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
	4. PVR occurrences broken down by regiment are not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average waiting time was for military personnel attending the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak to be given an appointment with a civilian consultant in the last period for which figures are available.

Don Touhig: The routinely collected data on waiting times for out-patients is specifically aimed at monitoring performance against the stated DMS targets.
	DMS targets are for 45 per cent. of all referrals to be seen within four weeks and 85 per cent. within 13 weeks. The waiting times for the period April 2003 to March 2004 show that 52.9 per cent. of referrals were seen within four weeks and 92.24 per cent. within the 13 week target.

Scottish Infantry Recruitment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding has been allocated for the recruitment of soldiers to the Scottish Infantry Regiments in 2005; what strategies have been employed to boost recruitment levels; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Army's overall recruiting budget for the financial year 2005–06 is £85.355 million. It is not possible to accurately identify expenditure by region or for specific areas of the British Army.
	The current recruiting climate is a demanding one and the Army is working hard to meet its enlistment targets. In Scotland, a multi-media marketing campaign was conducted between October 2004 and April 2005 with the aim of improving recruitment into the Scottish Infantry. A further campaign began in April 2005 and will run until Match 2006 to support all aspects of Army recruiting in Scotland.

Government Wine Cellar

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of (a) blue chip list wines, (b) fine wines, (c) reception or drinking wines and (d) spirits and liqueurs were held in the Government wine cellar, managed by his Department in each of the last five years; what the estimated value was in each year; what the total estimated value of the Government wine cellar was in each year; how much was spent on (i) blue chip list wines, (ii) fine wines, (iii) reception or drinking wines and (iv) spirits and liqueurs in each year; what the total expenditure on the Government wine cellar was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Government wine cellar holds approximately 37–39,000 bottles of wine at any given time. No distinction is made between "blue chip" and "fine" wines. Approximately 3–4,000 bottles of the stock are beverage or reception wines. Small quantities of spirits and liqueurs are held for general use. There has been no significant variation in the last five years.
	From 2000–04 the valuation placed on the cellar was approximately £1.6 million. From 2004, on the advice of the National Audit Office, the valuation was changed to reflect the cost price of the stock rather than the previous market valuation. The cellar is now valued at around £0.7 million.
	The total annual spend on the cellar varies from around £75,000 per annum to approximately £97,000, depending on stock levels and consumption.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's pursuit of a nuclear program.

Kim Howells: Our policy towards Iran is one of constructive, but critical engagement. We maintain a robust dialogue on issues of concern, such as Iran's nuclear programme.
	Our Government, together with France and Germany, supported by the European Union High Representative, (the "E3/EU") has agreed to negotiations with Iran on long-term arrangements as laid down in the Paris Agreement of November 15 2004. These arrangements will provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.

St. Helena's Chapel (Istanbul)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to lease the churchyard of St. Helena's chapel in Istanbul to a commercial organisation;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to restore St. Helena's chapel which is part of the British consulate in Istanbul.

Jack Straw: We are considering options for St. Helena's chapel with the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and will continue to work for an outcome which meets the needs both of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and The Church.

UK Consular Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capacity of consular services to assist stranded UK travellers in the event of a major scheduled airline failure in (a) peak season, (b) mid-season and (c) low-season.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Alexander) gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 187W. The capacity of our consular services to assist stranded travellers in peak season would undoubtedly be stretched further than in mid or low season due to factors such as availability of alternative transport and numbers travelling. It is for this reason that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office strongly recommends that UK citizens travelling abroad take out comprehensive travel insurance.

Hastings to Bexhill Link Road

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received opposing the proposed Hastings to Bexhill Link Road; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 7 July 2005
	My Department has, over the last twelve months, received written representations both "for" and "against" the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road, a proposed local transport major road scheme. Around 750 representations were received opposing the scheme.

Heathrow

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the noise insulation scheme will be applicable to Kingston as a result of the fifth terminal being built at Heathrow.

Karen Buck: There are no requirements for provision of noise insulation that relate to the construction or coming into use of the fifth terminal at Heathrow.
	Government policy on measures to address the impacts of future airport growth are set out in the White Paper, "The Future of Air Transport" 1 . We expect airport operators to offer acoustic insulation to any residential property which suffers a daytime noise level of 63dBA Leq 2 and a large increase in noise (3dBA Leq or more). Noise contours to determine the relevant boundaries should be produced in 2007, comparing noise levels in 2006 with those in 2002, and at 5 yearly intervals thereafter.
	Proposals for new noise insulation schemes in respect of night-time noise are set out in the consultation paper "Night Flying Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports: Stage 2 of Consultation on Restrictions to apply from 30 October 2005" that we published in June 3 . The map at annex G of the consultation paper shows the proposed boundaries for the Heathrow scheme do not include any part of Kingston-upon-Thames. The consultation closes on 16 September.
	1 Cm 6046, December 2003.
	2 A measure of long-term average noise exposure. For aircraft it is the level of a steady sound which, if heard continuously over the same period of time, would contain the same total sound energy as all the aircraft noise events. 3 The forthcoming publication of the consultation paper was announced on 9 June 2005, House of Commons, Official Report, column 59WS.

Merchant Navy

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the size of the UK merchant marine was by (a) tonnage and (b) number of ships in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The tonnage and number of trading vessels of 500 gt and over registered in the UK at the end of each year between 1994 and 2004 were as follows:
	
		
			 End of year Gross tonnage (Thousand) Deadweight tonnage (Thousand) Number 
		
		
			 1994 3,637 3,889 282 
			 1995 3,729 3,981 271 
			 1996 3,260 3,285 257 
			 1997 2,791 2,381 246 
			 1998 3,051 2,669 257 
			 1999 3,171 2,712 264 
			 2000 4,550 3,730 305 
			 2001 5,006 4,244 317 
			 2002 7,085 6,661 386 
			 2003 9,944 9,808 483 
			 2004 10,221 10,499 486 
		
	
	Note:
	The statistics are taken from "Maritime Statistics 2003", published by DfT.

Merchant Navy

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) officers and (b) seamen were serving in the merchant marine in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Estimates of the number of UK merchant navy officers and ratings are available for 1997 to 2004 only, as follows:
	
		
			  Officers Ratings Total 
		
		
			 1997 (17)14,300 10,800 25,100 
			 1998 (17)13,500 10,800 24,300 
			 1999 13,900 8,900 22,800 
			 2000 15,100 10,300 25,400 
			 2001 12,800 6,400 19,200 
			 2002 14,000 8,900 22,900 
			 2003 16,000 10,500 26,500 
			 2004 15,800 9,600 25,400 
		
	
	(17) Certificated officers only
	Notes:
	1. Officers and ratings estimates comprise deck, engine, technical and hotel/catering grades. Cadets are excluded.
	2. The estimates are taken from "UK Seafarer Statistics", published by DfT.

Roads

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Scottish business community on proposals for road pricing.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government will examine the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The Government have made clear the need for a broad consensus on this issue and continues to discuss transport matters with the business community.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A127 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A127 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the last period for which figures are available; and what the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B) 2008 and (C) 2010.

Stephen Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A127 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
	
		
			  AADF (lowest and highest) 
		
		
			 1997 54,000–70,000 
			 1999 56,000–70,000 
			 2000 55,000–62,000 
			 2004 60,000–67,000 
		
	
	The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A127 in the same years was as follows:
	
		
			  Capacity 
		
		
			 1997 68,000 
			 1999 68,000 
			 2000 68,000 
			 2004 68,000 
		
	
	For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to "The Future of Transport: A network for 2030" White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A13 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A13 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the last period for which figures are available; and what the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B) 2008 and (C) 2010.

Stephen Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A13 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
	
		
			  AADF (lowest and highest) 
		
		
			 1997 15,000–71,000 
			 1999 15,000–74,000 
			 2000 15,000–75,000 
			 2004 21,000–88,000 
		
	
	The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A13 in the same years was as follows:
	
		
			  Capacity 
		
		
			 1997 59,000 
			 1999 59,000 
			 2000 59,000 
			 2003 58,000 
		
	
	For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to "The Future of Transport: A network for 2030" White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum training obligation is for a company or group to qualify for tonnage tax exemption.

Stephen Ladyman: The minimum training obligation is to recruit and train one officer trainee per year for every 15 officer posts in the company/group's effective officer complement.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing times for housing benefit claims are in each (a) London borough, (b) local housing authority in the North East and (c) Pathfinder area, broken down by tenure sector.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in local authorities listed; fourth quarter 2004–05
		
			 31 March 2005 All housing benefit Rent rebate Rent allowance 
		
		
			 Alnwick 35.93 25.24 44.07 
			 Argyll and Bute 35.51 30.87 39.31 
			 Barking 70.02 63.1 82.17 
			 Barnet 35.47 31.24 37.01 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 31.82 23.16 39.81 
			 Bexley 44.71 34.76 46.14 
			 Blackpool 18.48 13.18 19.45 
			 Blyth Valley 24 22.51 25.88 
			 Brent 37.35 32.24 38.93 
			 Brighton and Hove 31.84 28.24 33.41 
			 Bromley 29.62 n/a 29.62 
			 Camden 34.79 30.69 37.99 
			 Castle Morpeth 23.68 19.52 26.94 
			 City of London 25.51 23.7 28.64 
			 Conwy 32.01 29.88 32.68 
			 Coventry 53.61 n/a 53.61 
			 Croydon 32.85 17.52 43.52 
			 Darlington 31.88 25.41 34.81 
			 Derwentside 28.39 25.66 30.83 
			 Durham 29.17 25.13 34.66 
			 Ealing 61.2 59.91 61.86 
			 Easington 36.01 35.86 36.16 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 29.46 22.1 33.78 
			 Edinburgh 43.79 33.32 55.14 
			 Enfield 39.08 32.91 41.83 
			 Gateshead 66.8 66.8 66.8 
			 Greenwich 35.22 31.29 39.39 
			 Guildford 21.01 23.26 19.83 
			 Hackney 78.53 70.52 84.71 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham n/a n/a n/a 
			 Haringey 50.34 38.07 57.31 
			 Harrow 27.3 22.11 28.83 
			 Hartlepool 28.96 18.25 29.07 
			 Havering 32.55 29.54 35.64 
			 Hillingdon 52.37 44.46 56.31 
			 Hounslow 40.74 33.53 45.83 
			 Islington 49.37 54.29 43.88 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 30.01 30.01 30.01 
			 Lambeth 47.11 42.75 51.27 
			 Leeds 64.2 63.2 65.28 
			 Lewisham 32.37 31.21 33.22 
			 Merton 52.38 46.74 54.6 
			 Middlesbrough 36.6 83.73 35.18 
			 Newham 47.24 47.43 47.17 
			 North East Lincoln 36 35.35 36.24 
			 North Tyneside 47.83 47.85 47.8 
			 Norwich 17.71 15.78 19.83 
			 Pembrokeshire 43.08 36.96 47.94 
			 Redbridge 36.16 29.39 38.73 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 39.05 32.58 39.28 
			 Salford n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sedgefield 31.91 29.34 35.96 
			 South Norfolk 31.2 15.45 32.62 
			 South Tyneside 42.64 42.23 43.41 
			 Southwark 39.13 39.13 39.13 
			 St Helens 34.21 n/a 34.21 
			 Sunderland n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sutton 42.07 30.51 47.52 
			 Teesdale 46.94 52.45 44.43 
			 Teignbridge 30.39 21.54 30.61 
			 Tower Hamlets 61.63 62 61.35 
			 Tynedale 21.28 n/a 21.28 
			 Waltham Forest 36.2 31.17 37.71 
			 Wandsworth 52.25 44.43 56.66 
			 Wansbeck 42.36 40.33 44.94 
			 Wear Valley 21.41 17.87 24.26 
			 Wrexham n/a n/a n/a 
			 Wychavon 35.21 21.29 35.43 
			 Wycombe 23.14 21.32 24.06 
			 Wyre 43.74 n/a 43.74 
			 Wyre Forest 28.52 33.63 28.31 
			 York 64.46 44.47 76.71 
		
	
	n/a = not provide by the local authority. In the case of rent rebate figures only not being available, this may be because the local authority has no rent rebate cases.
	Notes:
	1. Rent rebates are made on local authority properties.
	2. Rent allowance is paid on all private rented accommodation, including registered social landlords.
	Source:
	Local authority reported data.

Medical Assessment Centres

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which towns and villages in Amber Valley claimants attend medical assessment centres in (a) Derby, (b) Chesterfield, (c) Mansfield and (d) Nottingham.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the requested format.
	Information on the postcode areas that make up the Amber Valley constituency, and the medical examination centres that customers from that area would normally travel to for their medical examination, are in the table.
	
		
			 Postcode Medical assessment centre 
		
		
			 NG16 Derby 
			 DE21 Derby 
			 DE5 Derby 
			 DE56 Derby 
			 DE6 Derby 
			 DE7 Derby 
			 DE75 Derby 
			 DE4 Chesterfield 
			 DE55 Chesterfield 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The postcode DE75 falls within the Amber Valley constituency only.
	2. Remaining postcodes cover a number of constituencies, including Amber Valley.
	Source:
	DWP Medical Provision and Contracting Team

Civil Service Reform

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received on reforming the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have received a number of representations on reforming the civil service since my appointment. These have focused on the role of the civil service in helping the Government to deliver better public services, covering subjects such as the Government's information technology (IT) strategy to transform public services, better regulation, the involvement of users in public services and the importance of effective leadership development.
	The major programme of civil service reform currently under way addresses each of these issues. The latest position on reform was set out by the head of the home civil service on 20 June in the report, "Delivery and Values One Year On".

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by the Economic Secretary to HM Treasury (John Healey) on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.

Education Projects (Great Lakes and Horn of Africa)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in education projects in the (a) Great Lakes and (b) Horn of Africa regions.

Hilary Benn: In Uganda, over the last 10 years we have provided £75 million of direct assistance to the education sector through projects and targeted budget support. The Ugandan Government prefer donors to provide support for the implementation of its Poverty Eradication Action Plan as general budget support and this is now the principal means through which the UK supports the continued expansion of the education sector. In addition, mindful of the continuing insecurity in the north, DFID is supporting UNICEF in funding projects through NGOs that are improving access to basic services, including education.
	The UK is the co-ordinating donor for the education sector in Rwanda. We have supported education, through general budget support, £21 million was released between 2000 and 2003 via an 'education window', and our current Poverty Reduction Budget Support monitors education performance as an indicator of progress. Since 2001 we have targeted £13 million to a programme of capacity building. DFID has also worked with the Ministry of Education, with a particular focus on improving girls' education. We have also supported a number of measures to help reduce public financing on higher education.
	The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces immense challenges. Education—like every other sector—deteriorated hugely under the impact of conflict over the past decade. The DRC is moving towards its first democratic elections since the 1960s and we hope this will signal a new start in DRC where an elected Government, with the support of the international community, can work to deliver services to the Congolese people. DFID is already providing some assistance to education; we have been supporting the Bank in the development of their Education Investment programme, and we are supporting the NGO Catholic Relief Services in its project in basic education in North Sankuru. More broadly, we are now looking hard at what DFID's most effective long-term role should be, as part of the wider donor community, in supporting the strengthening and expansion of service delivery in the DRC.
	In Sudan, DFID is supporting UNICEF's work in basic education and the international NGO, GOAL'S country wide literacy and livelihoods programme. In the south we are in the process of developing a framework for service delivery which covers health, water and sanitation as well as education, and we are about to launch the second phase of our education and training scholarships scheme, which will be managed by the British Council (£1.4 million 2005–07). Our support for education in the Horn relates mainly to Ethiopia, with a small programme of support in Somalia.
	DFID supports the Government of Ethiopia's Education Sector Development Plan (ESDP), which emphasises primary education, through Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) to the Government of Ethiopia (£30 million 2004–05). The Department works closely with the Ministry of Education and development partners to improve sector dialogue, policies and strategies in education. Gross enrolment rates in primary education have doubled over the last 10 years. In addition, we provide specific technical support in a number of areas (including education management capacity building and HIV/AIDS and education). In particular, we are supporting the Ministry of Education's Teacher Development Programme through a pooled fund with five other bilateral partners. DFID also has a small Innovatory Fund for Education which supports the development and dissemination of innovative practice in education, particularly by NGOs.
	We are playing an active role in the coordination and development of the Somalia education sector with other development partners in Nairobi, including UNESCO, UNICEF, USAID, EU and the private sector. We are supporting UNESCO, Save the Children UK and Africa Educational Trust on projects in Somalia that aim to increase opportunities for girls as well as boys in accessing quality basic education, develop textbooks and establish an examination system.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Castle Point to the response given by the Prime Minister on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

Alcohol/Drugs-related Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in which the primary cause was (a) alcohol and (b) illegal drugs there were in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which the primary cause was (a) alcohol and (b) illegal drugs there were in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in his absence. (10557)
	The most recently available information is for deaths registered in 2004 and deaths occurring in 2003. Relevant figures are only readily available for deaths where the underlying cause was either related to drug poisoning or directly related to alcohol (alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use). It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved.
	Figures for alcohol-related deaths to usual residents of Southend and Essex registered in the years 1995 to 2004 are given in the attached table. ONS compiles a special database to analyse mortality from drug-related poisoning adding more detail than is available on routine annual extracts. This database is compiled using the annual occurrences extract of mortality data. Figures showing deaths related to drug poisoning involving controlled drugs occurring in the years 1994 to 2003, to usual residents of Southend and Essex, are given in the table below. Information on deaths involving illegal drugs is not available, as how the deceased obtained a particular drug is not recorded at death registration.
	It should be noted that the figures on drug-related poisoning are not directly comparable to the figures on alcohol for the following reasons.
	The figures on drugs do not include long-term effects of drug taking, whereas the figures on alcohol include cirrhosis of the liver.
	Deaths from poisoning which involved both drugs and alcohol are coded as due to drug poisoning, in accordance with international rules for coding cause of death.
	The figures on alcohol include only those where the underlying cause was alcohol-related. The figures on specific drugs include any mention of a substance on a death related to drug poisoning.
	
		Number of alcohol-related deaths(22) and deaths from drug-related poisoning(23) involving controlled drugs,(24) Southend and Essex,(25) 1994 to 2004(26)
		
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) Alcohol-related deaths 
			 (i) Southend — 12 17 17 16 12 18 19 21 26 24 
			 (ii) Essex — 60 82 88 101 95 96 113 102 111 113 
			 (b) Deaths from drug-related poisoning involving controlled drugs 
			 (i) Southend 9 * 8 * 5 5 7 12 5 10 — 
			 (ii) Essex 19 20 15 29 22 28 35 16 21 17 — 
		
	
	* Fewer than 5 deaths
	(22) For the years 1995–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes selected to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–04 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were selected:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 5–14.
	(23) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5for 1994 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-YJ4 from 2001 onwards.
	(24) Drugs mentioned on the death certificate of a death where the underlying cause was drug poisoning.
	(25) Deaths of usual residents of:
	(i)—Southend-on-Sea unitary authority
	(ii)—County of Essex
	Data for the county of Essex does not include deaths to residents of the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea or Thurrock.
	(26) Data are for deaths registered in each calendar year for alcohol-related deaths and for deaths occurring in each calendar year for deaths related to drug poisoning.

Corruption (Procurement)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the definition is of general interest as used by his Department in the draft regulations to implement Article 45 of the EU procurement directive 2004/18/EC; and if he will make a statement on the overriding requirements through which a contracting authority can disregard the duty not to select an economic operator that has been convicted of corruption or bribery as described in that directive.

John Healey: The Government believes that Article 45 of the new procurement directive is very helpful in the fight against fraud and corruption by requiring, for the first time under the EU procurement rules, contracting authorities to exclude suppliers convicted of such offences. At present, such exclusions are voluntary. The article only enables member states to derogate from this requirement for "overriding requirements in the general interest", which is designed to cover exceptional circumstances of national emergency, for example related to the protection of life and security. Our proposed guidance on this article will cover these matters and will provide additional advice to authorities on when the derogation should be invoked. This guidance will be informed by the current consultation exercise on the regulations to implement the new directive.

Fuel Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in fuel duty on those (a) on low incomes and (b) without access to alternative modes of transport;
	(2)  what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of rises in fuel duty on the growth of carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research;
	(3)  what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of the cost of petrol on use of vehicles; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	When taking decisions on fuel duty rates, the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes account of all relevant economic, environmental and social considerations.
	No specific research has been published on the impact of increases of fuel prices on those on low incomes; however, some reports have been published by the Department for Transport analysing the relationship between fuel costs, vehicle use and carbon emissions, which are relevant. These are:
	"Review of Income and Price Elasticities in the Demand for Road Traffic" by Mark Hanly, Joyce Dargay and Phil Goodwin, UCL, March 2002;
	"Development of an Aggregated Transport Forecasting Model (ATFM)" by Joyce Dargay, Phil Goodwin and Mark Hanly, UCL, September 2002; and
	"Review of income and price elasticities of demand for road traffic" by Daniel Graham and Stephen Glaister, Imperial College, July 2002.
	These reports are all available on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk) and copies have been placed in the House.

Ministers (Tax Treatment)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the income tax treatment of Ministers differs from the tax treatment of individuals receiving comparative pay and emoluments in the private sector, with particular reference to (a) residences and (b) cars.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax rules which apply when someone is provided with accommodation because of his or her office or employment are the same for Government Ministers as for other taxpayers.
	The tax treatment of transport and subsistence for the Speaker, Ministers and Opposition office-holders is covered by specific legislation in section 295 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act.

Perinatal/Infant Mortality

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rates of (a) perinatal mortality and (b) infant mortality in each primary care trust were in (i) the Southend area, (ii) Essex and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rates of perinatal mortality and infant mortality in each primary care trust were in (a) the Southend area, (b) Essex and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (10559)
	Information on infant and perinatal mortality is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures for England and Wales, Essex and Southend unitary authority are given in the attached table.
	Figures cannot be provided for primary care trusts because of the risk of disclosing information about individuals as a result of differences between trust and local authority boundaries.
	
		Perinatal and infant mortality rates by selected area, 1999 to 2003.
		
			  England and Wales Essex Southend UA 
		
		
			 Perinatal mortality rate(30) 
			 1999 8.2 6.8 7.0 
			 2000 8.2 6.9 6.9 
			 2001 8.0 5.8 7.8 
			 2002 8.3 8.1 7.9 
			 2003 8.5 6.8 8.3 
			 Infant mortality rate(31) 
			 1999 5.8 4.4 3.5 
			 2000 5.6 3.8 3.2 
			 2001 5.4 4.3 3.2 
			 2002 5.2 4.8 4.2 
			 2003 5.3 4.5 5.2 
		
	
	(30) Per 1,000 live and stillbirths
	(31) Per 1,000 live births
	Source:
	For 1999 to 2001, rates are available in Key Population and Vital Statistics, table 4.2 and for 2002 to 2003 rates are shown in table 4.1b. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=539

Public Sector Spectrum

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made in assessing the potential to release public sector spectrum to the market; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Chancellor announced an independent audit of spectrum holdings—focusing on the public sector—in his pre-Budget report in 2004. The audit is being carried out by Professor Martin Cave, who intends to publish a consultation paper on energy issues before delivering his final report ahead of the 2005 pre-Budget report.

Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the calculation of overpayments of tax credit takes into account (a) pension contributions and (b) charitable contributions; and whether this information is routinely requested by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before sending out calculations of overpayment;
	(2)  whether information on (a) pension contributions and (b) charitable contributions is routinely requested in the calculation of tax credits; and what percentage of tax credit claimants provided such information in the last period for which information is available.

Dawn Primarolo: Pension contributions and charitable contributions are both taken into account in calculating tax credit awards, as are Gift Aid, trading losses and non-taxable expenses.
	In both the tax credits claim form and accompanying guidance notes, claimants are advised to obtain a working sheet (TC825) to help them calculate the deductions they can make against the family's gross income on which their tax credit award is assessed.
	Claimants are given the same advice in their renewals form and accompanying guidance, which is sent out at the end of the tax year.
	No data is available on numbers who make such deductions.

Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many open days have been held by the Inland Revenue in the last 12 months for staff and volunteers of independent advice services providing assistance to tax credit claimants; how many people have attended such open days; and if he will make a statement on (a) feedback received and (b) resultant action.

Dawn Primarolo: Between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005 Tax Credit Office attended 151 events around the country. The events were attended by around 3,600 people from the voluntary and community sector (VCS).
	(a) An average 90 per cent. of attendees rated the events as "good" or "excellent".
	(b) TCO representatives undertake to answer separately any advisers' questions that could not be answered immediately at the event. They also report back any points that have arisen to colleagues as appropriate, in case any further follow up action may be required.

Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many young people are not in employment, education or training, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of each age group, in descending order grouped by region for the last year in which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many young people are not in employment, education or training, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority (i) in total and (ii) a percentage of each age group, in descending order grouped by region for the last year in which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (10384)
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library, tables showing the numbers of people aged 16 to 24 not in employment, or in full-time education or government training for each constituency and local authority in Great Britain, during the 12 months ending February 2004. Estimates for similar areas in Northern Ireland are not available.
	These estimates, based on annual local area Labour Force Survey, depend on small sample numbers and are therefore subject to relatively large sampling errors. The comparisons between the percentages for different areas (quoted in tables 2 and 4) should be treated with particular caution.

Business and Industry Skills

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the supply of science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills for young people for business and industry.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department and DfES are working closely together to ensure that the skills which business and industry require are those which are delivered in schools and through the sector skills councils. For example the 14–19 White Paper (DfES) recognised the need to do more to increase the appreciation among tomorrow's citizens of the contribution that science and technology make towards our way of life; and also to increase the numbers who leave school equipped to pursue careers using skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
	The DTIs key focus is on the informal side of science education. We are supporting SETNET, the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths Network, for the next three years with funding in excess of £10 million. SETNET co-ordinates a UK-wide network of some 50 SETPOINTS and also the Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme (SEAs) which provides a framework within which people, working in science and technology environments can be trained to go into schools and act as role models to help teachers convey the excitement of careers using STEM skills.

Crèche Facilities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost to (a) the Department and (b) employees in 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: DTI staff in central London have access to a 32 place holiday play scheme in our 1 Victoria Street building which is highly rated by both parents and children for its quality. DTI HQ staff in Cardiff have access to a local holiday play-scheme.
	London-based DTI staff also have access to six full-time subsidized nursery places for under 5's, currently occupied by five children. DTI plans to end the contract in December 2005 and to introduce a Salary Sacrifice scheme that will benefit more parents, enabling them to make savings on their child care fees. Costs for (a) the department is £63,214 (b) employees the holiday play scheme costs £14.00 per place towards the £31.00 daily fee, and nursery places cost £118 per week.

European Charter for Researchers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on UK plans to implement the European Charter for Researchers.

Malcolm Wicks: It is for individual institutions to decide whether they wish to subscribe to the European Charter for Researchers, which draws heavily upon UK practice. The UK presidency of the European Union will in addition be hosting an international conference on 8 and 9 September at which the Charter and its practical implementation will be discussed. The Charter will also influence on-going work on a possible revision to the "Concordat for the Management of Research Staff in UK Universities and Colleges".

Miners' Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the top 20 solicitors in terms of (a) fees paid, (b) claims registered and (c) claims outstanding for (i) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (ii) vibration white finger deceased claims under the Miners' Compensation Scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The top 20 solicitors in each of the categories is as follows:
	
		(a)(i) Fees for handling deceased COPD claims £ million
		
			 Solicitor Fee 
		
		
			 Thompsons 35.5 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 31.3 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 28.3 
			 Raleys Solicitors 21.9 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 16.9 
			 Browell Smith and Co 13.7 
			 Graysons 6.6 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 6.0 
			 Watson Burton 5.6 
			 The Legal Warehouse 5.4 
			 Irwin Mitchell 5.4 
			 Wake Smith 5.3 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 4.8 
			 Towells Solicitors 4.6 
			 Moss Solicitors 3.4 
			 O. H. Parsons 2.9 
			 Birchall Blackburn 2.7 
			 Corries 2.3 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 2.1 
			 Barber and Co 2.0 
		
	
	
		(a)(ii) Fees for handling deceased VWF claims £000
		
			 Solicitor Fee 
		
		
			 Thompsons 1,147.9 
			 Browell Smith and Co 549.0 
			 Raleys Solicitors 497.8 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 369.7 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 336.2 
			 Graysons 269.6 
			 Watson Burton 186.5 
			 Moss Solicitors 109.3 
			 Irwin Mitchell 106.8 
			 Towells Solicitors 103.6 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 96.4 
			 AMS Law 86.0 
			 Atteys 72.5 
			 O. H. Parsons 68.4 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 67.4 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 55.9 
			 Corries 33.9 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 19.3 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors 15.4 
			 Simpson Millar Solicitors 11.4 
		
	
	
		(b)(i) Deceased COPD claims registered
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Beresfords Solicitors 50,929 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 36,176 
			 Thompsons 32,922 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 23,974 
			 Raleys Solicitors 23,690 
			 Avalon 19,506 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 16,163 
			 Barber and Co. 9,991 
			 Corries 6,785 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 6,641 
			 Delta Legal 6,401 
			 Birchall Blackburn 5,784 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 5,559 
			 Watson Burton 5,234 
			 BRM Solicitors 4,939 
			 AMS Law 4,903 
			 The Legal Warehouse 4,643 
			 Graysons 4,248 
			 Irwin Mitchell 3,922 
			 Wake Smith 3,865 
		
	
	
		(b)(ii) Deceased VWF claims registered
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Thompsons 3,361 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 2,784 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 2,567 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 1,730 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 1,528 
			 Graysons 1,187 
			 Raleys Solicitors 1,173 
			 Towells Solicitors 973 
			 Moss Solicitors 780 
			 AMS Law 744 
			 Watson Burton 601 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 318 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkin and Martin 314 
			 The Legal Warehouse 290 
			 Irwin Mitchell 276 
			 Atteys 263 
			 O. H. Parsons 220 
			 Corries 118 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 111 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 84 
		
	
	
		(c)(i) Deceased COPD claims outstanding
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Beresfords Solicitors 38,965 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 24,628 
			 Thompsons 20,018 
			 Avalon 18,330 
			 Raleys Solicitors 15,109 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 11,179 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 10,246 
			 Barber and Co. 8,184 
			 Delta Legal 5,802 
			 Corries 5,504 
			 Birchall Blackburn 4,513 
			 BRM Solicitors 4,366 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 3,941 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 3,530 
			 AMS Law 3,323 
			 Hilary Meredith Solicitors 2,431 
			 The Legal Warehouse 2,419 
			 Watson Burton 2,284 
			 1 Legal Solicitors 2,061 
			 Recompense Ltd. 1,708 
		
	
	
		(c)(ii) Deceased VWF claims outstanding
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Thompsons 2,153 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 973 
			 Graysons 888 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 824 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 791 
			 Towells Solicitors 519 
			 Raleys Solicitors 436 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 413 
			 Moss Solicitors 344 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 167 
			 The Legal Warehouse 155 
			 Irwin Mitchell 116 
			 Atteys 112 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 97 
			 Corries 62 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 62 
			 O. H. Parsons 58 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 25

Petrol Prices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average price per litre of (a) unleaded petrol and (b) leaded petrol was in (i) Great Britain and (ii) the United States, together with the amount of tax paid per litre in each case, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: Data is only available for unleaded petrol (95 RON specification) and for the United Kingdom not Great Britain. Prices in pence per litre are given as follows.
	
		Pence/litre
		
			  Prices in the United Kingdom Prices in the United States 
			  Including taxes Total tax Excluding taxes Including taxes Total tax Excluding taxes 
		
		
			 2000 79.93 60.32 19.60 29.56 6.66 22.89 
			 2001 75.72 57.68 18.04 30.42 7.01 23.40 
			 2002 73.24 56.73 16.51 27.51 6.76 20.75 
			 2003 76.04 57.47 18.58 28.72 6.24 22.49 
			 2004 80.22 59.05 21.18 29.78 5.63 24.15 
		
	
	Source:
	International Energy Agency, Energy Prices and Taxes, Q1 2005.

"Delivering Race Equality"

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken towards the improvement of services for older people specified in "Delivering Race Equality".

Liam Byrne: "Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care" (DRE) was published in January 2005. It is a five-year action plan for tackling discrimination and improving services for black and minority ethnic (BME) patients.
	DRE was preceded in 2001 by the national service framework (NSF) for older people. Standard seven of the NSF is clear that older people from BME communities need appropriate and accessible mental health services. DRE recognises that older people from BME communities can face additional barriers to appropriate and effective mental health services. It also recognised that further action was needed for standard seven of the NSF to be implemented fully.
	The Department's national clinical directors for older people's services and mental health services, Professors Ian Philp and Louis Appleby, will shortly launch a vision for the future of older people's mental health. This will outline the key components of a model service and build on the service developments that the NSF and DRE have initiated.
	A number of focused implementation sites for DRE are being established. These sites will help to develop best practice in mental health care for BME communities, including older people, that can be disseminated across the country.

Accident and Emergency Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those attending accident and emergency departments were not registered with a GP in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS region.

Liam Byrne: This data is not collected centrally by the Department.

Agency Staff

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the number of agency staff working in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: We have a well established work force strategy based on recruiting and retaining a high quality national health service work force. As part of this strategy, we recognise the need to use a flexible pool of staff through NHS banks or private agencies. We expect these staff to be of good quality and for the NHS to get value for money. To ensure that this is the case, we have developed agency framework agreements through our Purchasing and Supplies Agency and have established NHS professionals as a special health authority. These are playing a significant part in securing the appropriate and effective use of agency staff.
	According to a recent independent report, agency spending fell "for the first time in recent memory" in 2003–04 and improvements were led by a reduction of £65 million in spend on agency nurses.

Alcohol-related Illness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) under the age of 18 and (b) over the age of 18 were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by region.

Caroline Flint: The table shows how many people under the age of 18 and over the age of 18 were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems in each of the years for which data are available—from 1996–97 onwards—broken down by region.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes for selected(32) alcohol related diseases by strategic health authority (SHA) of residence and age grouping—national health service hospitals, England 1996–97 to 2003–04
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 108 713 149 876 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 139 526 159 677 
			 Q03 Essex HA 69 672 55 771 
			 Q04 North West London HA 56 1,008 51 1,432 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 65 761 43 901 
			 Q06 North East London HA 56 851 45 946 
			 Q07 South East London HA 69 926 71 1,286 
			 Q08 South West London HA 100 762 94 765 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 226 1,513 238 1,236 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 257 959 282 1,014 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 144 928 108 537 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 228 1,351 225 1,411 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 252 2,259 261 2,148 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 271 2,766 278 2,470 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 356 2,983 332 3,085 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 69 858 86 935 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 97 1,118 107 1,141 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 115 806 123 597 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 159 1,530 168 1,475 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 127 1,184 119 1,211 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 123 943 148 1,045 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 76 908 92 726 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 153 761 126 868 
			 Q24 Trent HA 193 1,848 245 1,647 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 94 667 117 672 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 155 1,035 182 1,227 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 169 2,047 208 2,106 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 170 1,388 182 1,294 
			 S Scotland 2 21 4 19 
			 U England—not otherwise specified 3 330 9 414 
			 W Wales 17 91 17 125 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 6 38 4 34 
			 Y Unknown 49 1,176 93 1,934 
			 Z Northern Ireland — 13 — 6 
			 Total 4,173 35,740 4,421 37,031 
		
	
	
		
			   1998–99 1999–2000 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 115 1,061 143 1,133 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 148 712 158 734 
			 Q03 Essex HA 47 681 58 783 
			 Q04 North West London HA 45 1,528 50 1,124 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 28 893 52 901 
			 Q06 North East London HA 47 974 53 1,056 
			 Q07 South East London HA 48 1,198 71 1,360 
			 Q08 South West London HA 79 713 87 876 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 195 1,640 198 1,690 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 213 1,083 239 1,102 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 198 1,331 253 1,414 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 206 1,254 237 1,376 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 221 1,942 313 1,811 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 251 2,291 290 2,309 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 296 2,955 319 2,961 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 100 866 111 854 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 117 1,361 138 1,328 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 119 597 127 676 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 167 1,417 207 1,244 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 149 1,200 124 1,234 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 107 926 137 966 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 95 737 90 935 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 148 887 170 869 
			 Q24 Trent HA 202 2,011 259 2,068 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 114 851 126 788 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 141 1,102 169 1,048 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 203 1,861 281 1,866 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 173 1,133 199 1,231 
			 S Scotland 2 24 6 38 
			 U England—not otherwise specified 8 499 — — 
			 W Wales 17 116 25 218 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 9 36 13 43 
			 Y Unknown 18 570 35 1,016 
			 Z Northern Ireland — 15 — 8 
			 Total 4,026 36,465 4,738 37,060 
		
	
	
		
			   2000–01 2001–02 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 144 1,133 130 1,135 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 122 629 176 687 
			 Q03 Essex HA 61 768 43 761 
			 Q04 North West London HA 54 955 61 1,106 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 49 814 44 807 
			 Q06 North East London HA 30 889 52 977 
			 Q07 South East London HA 53 1,113 47 1,017 
			 Q08 South West London HA 102 850 115 761 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 219 1,567 172 1,486 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 241 1,066 183 1,079 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 221 1,232 224 1,246 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 168 1,509 192 1,509 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 294 1,823 288 2,168 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 342 2,301 285 2,311 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 314 3,156 315 3,459 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 69 913 129 954 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 133 1,315 119 1,290 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 99 665 151 650 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 235 1,260 295 1,256 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 122 1,017 144 1,094 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 110 1,114 110 1,152 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 98 731 97 712 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 139 951 103 831 
			 Q24 Trent HA 232 2,006 251 1,875 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 98 768 91 652 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 135 950 148 1,002 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 267 1,842 247 1,908 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 194 1,107 142 1,026 
			 S Scotland 4 29 2 35 
			 U England—not otherwise specified 5 495 7 529 
			 W Wales 16 84 23 111 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 10 44 6 47 
			 Y Unknown 32 500 42 558 
			 Z Northern Ireland — 7 — 6 
			 Total 4,412 35,603 4,434 36,197 
		
	
	
		
			   2002–03 2003–04 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 115 1,208 144 1,338 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 148 707 133 815 
			 Q03 Essex HA 52 779 64 981 
			 Q04 North West London HA 60 1,204 86 1,423 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 59 874 62 906 
			 Q06 North East London HA 64 1,036 86 1,157 
			 Q07 South East London HA 62 1,289 88 1,392 
			 Q08 South West London HA 129 863 135 1,049 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 159 1,510 117 1,533 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 123 929 142 1,225 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 170 1,209 252 1,292 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 204 1,484 186 1,539 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 273 2,023 250 2,054 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 271 2,162 344 2,522 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 323 3,517 349 3,771 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 89 975 116 1,063 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 151 1,405 181 1,307 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 116 734 145 766 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 253 1,496 266 1,543 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 126 1,107 170 1,230 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 128 1,218 198 1,292 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 85 660 85 730 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 89 957 100 1,146 
			 Q24 Trent HA 211 1,832 218 2,060 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 84 853 92 1,111 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 138 1,097 176 1,276 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 185 1,978 237 2,113 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 143 1,181 152 1,135 
			 S Scotland 6 24 6 47 
			 U England—not otherwise specified 8 553 17 705 
			 W Wales 18 89 12 104 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 10 47 9 61 
			 Y Unknown 27 445 29 417 
			 Z Northern Ireland — 8 — 19 
			 Total 4,079 37,453 4,647 41,122 
		
	
	(32) Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis
	F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, K70 Alcoholic liver disease, T51 Toxic effect of alcohol
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Ambulance Service (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances are on call in Lancashire (a) on weekdays, (b) at weekends, (c) between 10 pm and 6 am during the week, (d) between 10 pm and 6 am on (i) Friday, (ii) Saturday and (iii) Sunday nights; and how many are stationed in Chorley constituency.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available centrally and can be obtained from the Lancashire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust.

Anti-psychotic Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse reaction reports were received through the yellow card reporting system for (a) all anti-psychotic drugs, (b) traditional anti-psychotic drugs and (c) atypical anti-psychotic drugs in each of the last five years; and how many prescriptions there were for each type of drug in each year.

Jane Kennedy: Table 1 shows the total number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the yellow card scheme from 1 January to 31 December for each of the last five years, for all anti-psychotic drugs, traditional anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics.
	
		Table 1: Number of reports received via the yellow card scheme for anti-psychotics
		
			  Number of reports for all anti-psychotics Number of reports for traditional anti-psychotics Number of reports for atypical anti-psychotics 
		
		
			 2000 1,000 100 913 
			 2001 1,189 105 1,097 
			 2002 1,395 90 1,316 
			 2003 1,774 115 1,680 
			 2004 2,004 78 1,933 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The sum of reports for traditional and atypical anti-psychotics do not equal the number of reports for all anti-psychotics because, although each report refers to one patient, some reports have more than one suspected anti-psychotic drug as the patient is taking several drugs.
	2. It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships, including the possibility that the timing of the suspected reaction may be coincidental with the patient taking the drug, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.
	Table 2 shows the total number of prescriptions for all anti-psychotic drugs, traditional anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics over the last five years supplied by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA).
	
		Table 2: Number of prescription items dispensed in the community for traditional and atypical anti-psychotics (for prescriptions dispensed in England) Thousand
		
			  Number of prescriptions for all anti-psychotics Number of prescriptions for traditional anti-psychotics Number of prescriptions for atypical anti-psychotics 
		
		
			 2000 4,939.7 3,790.3 1,149.5 
			 2001 4,718.0 2,876.0 1,842.0 
			 2002 4,978.5 2,507.2 2,471.3 
			 2003 5,335.0 2,251.3 3,083.7 
			 2004 5,521.4 2,196.5 3,324.9 
		
	
	Note:
	The data does not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. Anti-psychotics are commonly dispensed within hospital pharmacies.

Breastfeeding

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget provision she has made in her Department for supporting breastfeeding in (a) the 2005–06 financial year and (b) the 2006–07 financial year.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to increasing support for breastfeeding and has identified approximately £2 million for activities related to "Healthy Start" and breastfeeding, including national breastfeeding awareness week and a new national breastfeeding helpline. The five yearly national infant feeding survey to be conducted later this year will be funded separately. Primary care trusts are responsible for funding local breastfeeding support. The funding for financial year 2006–07 has yet to be agreed.

Cardiac Care (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cardiac-related emergency cases have been treated in hospitals in Southend in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of emergency, finished admission episodes of cardiac care in Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust and, as it was known prior to 1998–99, Southend Health Care NHS Trust, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Finished admission episodes 
		
		
			 1997–98 87 
			 1998–99 124 
			 1999–2000 210 
			 2000–01 232 
			 2001–02 247 
			 2002–03 269 
			 2003–04 254 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data are un-grossed.
	3. The main operation is the first recorded operation in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, eg time waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	Source:
	HES: Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Clostridium Difficile

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to prevent the spread of Clostridium difficile in hospitals in England.

Jane Kennedy: Our programme to control healthcare associated infection in England, including those due to Clostridium difficile, is set out in the Department's publications, "Winning Ways: Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England" (December 2003) and "Towards cleaner hospitals and lower rates of infection" (July 2004). Specific measures will include incorporating high standard infection control procedures; appropriate antibiotic prescribing; and appropriate contingency, for example, appropriate disinfection or isolation, if an outbreak occurs.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what orthodontic treatment is available on the NHS; and what the charges are for each type of treatment.

Rosie Winterton: Full details of dental treatment available on the national health service are set out in the statement of dental remuneration (SDR), which details the availability of all NHS treatment and the fees payable by patients. A copy of the SDR has been placed in the Library. As with all NHS dental treatment, orthodontic treatment is free for children.

Dentistry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists undertaking NHS work there are in (a) Essex and (b) Southend Primary Care Trust; and if she will list the practices which are taking new patients.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of dentists in Essex and Southend Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	Information about dentists taking on new national health service patients is not collected centrally. However, information can be obtained from local PCTs or from NHS Direct.
	
		General dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS)—number of dentists in the specified areas as at 31 March 2005
		
			  All dentists 
		
		
			 Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 628 
			 of which:  
			 Southend-on-Sea PCT 61 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures given by PCT and SHA include all dentists practising in that area. Some dentists may have an open GDS or PDS contact in more than one PCT or SHA and therefore they have been counted more than once.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Disability Equality Training

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that all NHS staff receive disability equality training; how many trusts provide such training; and how many strategic health authorities monitor the availability of such training in their area.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 9 June 2005
	The responsibility for diversity awareness training, which includes disability equality, lies with each national health service employer. We recommended in "Improving Working Lives Practice Plus" that NHS employers provide employees with diversity awareness training. All NHS employers are expected to conform to "Improving Working Lives" human resources practice by March 2006. General practitioner practices and foundation trusts, however, are not covered by these requirements. Compliance data is not held centrally.

Equal Opportunities

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what mechanisms she is developing with the National Assembly for Wales Government to assess and share good practice in the implementation of the Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004 in England and Wales;
	(2)  when the policy and practice guidance on the implementation of the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004 will be issued.

Liam Byrne: The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is currently working on a web-based practice guidance to link with Departmental policy guidance. As SCIE covers England and Wales, this material will be relevant to both countries.
	The Department hopes to publish the policy guidance for the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004 by the end of July 2005. SCIE plans to produce the practice guidance and to publish it online in September 2005.

Equal Opportunities

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms will be put in place to assess the impact of the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004.

Liam Byrne: The number of carers receiving assessments is increasing year-on-year. From 2004–05, new data will be collected on the outcomes of carer's assessments as well as the number of assessments. However, there are currently no specific plans to monitor precisely what service a carer receives as a result of their assessment.

Euthanasia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from (a) doctors and (b) nurses in support of (i) assisted suicide and (ii) voluntary euthanasia.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has received regular correspondence over the last year on assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia expressing a range of views and opinions. Correspondents do not necessarily include details of their profession.

Food Poisoning (West Midlands)

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning there have been in each local authority in the west midlands in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: The number of notified cases of food poisoning in each local authority in the west midlands in each of the last 10 years is shown in Table 1.
	Total notifications for the west midlands have shown a decrease since 1997.
	Notified cases of food poisoning are not considered to be a reliable indicator of food-borne disease, due to considerable under-reporting. Very few notified cases will be based on evidence supporting a suspected association with food.
	The Health Protection Agency has estimated that, in 2000, there may have been as many as 1.3 million cases of food-borne disease acquired in England and Wales, of which around 370,000 consulted a doctor 1 . In that year, only 86,528 cases of food poisoning were notified in England and Wales.
	The annual totals of laboratory-confirmed cases of "Campylobacter" and "Salmonella" in the west midlands in the years 1995–2004 are shown in Table 2.
	1 Adak G. K. Long S. M. O'Brien S. J. Gut 2002; 51:832–841.
	
		Table 1: Notifications of food poisoning from the west midlands region(33)(34)
		
			 Local authority name 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005(35) Total 
		
		
			 Birmingham 1,121 2,105 2,073 1,888 1,775 1,604 1,354 1,244 1,233 518 1,4915 
			 Bridgnorth 143 151 129 125 126 120 88 96 119 39 1,136 
			 Bromsgrove 68 107 109 96 101 91 70 72 105 36 855 
			 Cannock Chase 20 35 23 24 34 60 158 147 144 50 695 
			 Coventry 419 368 461 434 322 406 505 412 441 144 3,912 
			 Dudley 1,200 1,003 941 876 832 616 551 495 462 171 7,147 
			 East Staffordshire 84 107 86 166 162 121 91 138 97 42 1,094 
			 Hereford 51 70 — — — — — — — — 121 
			 Hereford UA — — 357 312 459 202 118 185 205 58 1,896 
			 Leominster 53 64 — — — — — — — — 117 
			 Lichfield 125 185 159 200 173 153 147 137 80 41 1,400 
			 Malvern Hills 267 304 224 204 227 199 166 182 184 60 2,017 
			 Newcastle under Lyme 161 176 143 151 167 173 149 159 129 47 1,455 
			 North Shropshire 162 185 120 153 147 142 116 111 85 31 1,252 
			 North Warwickshire 96 118 164 141 130 136 98 75 79 30 1,067 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth 88 140 142 115 145 152 113 137 140 72 1,244 
			 Oswestry 89 69 75 71 60 52 49 70 40 24 599 
			 Redditch 93 83 58 76 67 53 56 50 79 17 632 
			 Rugby 43 82 112 88 79 78 111 122 127 20 862 
			 Sandwell 332 365 259 234 378 222 203 242 231 85 2,551 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 221 220 246 194 224 214 157 180 165 49 1,870 
			 Solihull 353 551 519 382 517 484 348 342 275 109 3,880 
			 South Herefordshire 50 98 — — — — — — — — 148 
			 South Shropshire 137 116 65 86 114 102 70 83 93 39 905 
			 South Staffordshire 131 165 166 184 269 314 223 222 146 59 1,879 
			 Stafford 263 328 309 273 236 266 227 237 203 79 2,421 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 27 30 19 126 165 139 115 106 105 40 872 
			 Stoke on Trent 435 — — — — — — — — — 435 
			 Stoke on Trent UA — 403 361 367 399 451 319 333 308 97 3,038 
			 Stratford on Avon 63 158 201 212 222 222 232 187 219 87 1,803 
			 Tarn worth 81 71 80 75 110 71 82 61 54 20 705 
			 Telford and Wrekin UA — — 227 231 272 296 228 203 245 95 1,797 
			 The Wrekin 286 335 — — — — — — — — 621 
			 Walsall 288 345 351 303 322 280 203 214 190 87 2,583 
			 Warwick 54 152 167 159 186 214 161 178 183 58 1,512 
			 Wolverhampton 461 502 590 412 416 426 361 318 224 101 3,811 
			 Worcester 247 229 322 301 271 253 206 241 207 57 2,334 
			 Wychavon 198 203 204 207 216 184 150 204 165 65 1,796 
			 Wyre Forest 155 160 171 212 197 231 171 223 180 79 1,779 
			 Total 8,065 9,783 9,633 9,078 9,520 8,727 7,396 7,406 6,942 2,606 79,156 
		
	
	(33) Data gaps are due to changes in the boundaries and re-organisation of some local and unitary authorities in 1997 and 1998.
	(34) The data presented in the table represent the number of cases notified in each area. The figures have not been adjusted for population.
	(35) Provisional data, for weeks 01/2005 to 24/2005 only.
	Source:
	Notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDS)—29/06/2005.
	
		Table 2: Laboratory-reported cases of campylobacter and salmonella in the west midlands region, 1995–2004
		
			 Region: west midlands Campylobacter Salmonella(37) 
		
		
			 1995 4,528 2,723 
			 1996 5,152 2,762 
			 1997 6,087 2,693 
			 1998 6,540 1,923 
			 1999 6,384 1,505 
			 2000 7,408 1,296 
			 2001 6,621 1,325 
			 2002 5,621 1,033 
			 2003 5,347 1,122 
			 2004(36) 4,902 1,120 
		
	
	(36) Provisional data (may be subject to further change).
	(37) From Health Protection Agency Salmonella dataset
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency centre for infections, environmental and enteric diseases department, England and Wales.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent general medical practitioners there were in each primary care trust in London on average in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004, broken down by (i) single handed and (ii) two or more partner general practitioner practices; and what percentage these practices represented of the total number of general practitioner practices in each year.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners are practising in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex; and what the size of the patient list at each practice is.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 July 2005
	The number general practitioners, GP practices, number of patients and average list size providing services to the residents of South Woodham Ferrers are shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of general medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars(38), and GP practices for specified organisations As at 30 September 2004Number (headcount) 
		
			 Primary care trust All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(38) Patients Average list size GP practices 
		
		
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford 78 143,284 1,837 20 
			 Castle Point and Rochford 91 175,019 1,923 27 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford 47 81,460 1,733 15 
		
	
	(38) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others, and personal medical service (PMS) others.
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

General Practitioners

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there have been in the Southend primary care trust area in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of general practitioners in the Southend area, with information for Southend on Sea primary care group (PCG) for 1999 and 2000 and then for its successor organisation, Southend on Sea primary care trust (PCT) for 2001 to 2004.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(39) for specified organisations: 1999–2004 Numbers (headcount)
		
			   1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (40)2004 
		
		
			 4KH89 Southend On Sea PCG 84 84 (41)— (41)— (41)— (41)— (41)— 
			 5AK Southend On Sea PCT (41)— (41)— 82 79 87 111 103 
		
	
	(39) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others and personal medical service (PMS) others. Prior to September 2004 this group included GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(40) As at December
	(41) Denotes data not applicable
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 1999–2000, 30 September 2001–04 and 31 December 2004.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

General Social Care Council

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the General Social Care Council measures the impact of its codes of practice on (a) the recruitment of social workers and (b) service users.

Liam Byrne: Information on the impact of the General Social Care Council's (GSCC) codes of practice on the recruitment of social workers is not collected centrally.
	The GSCC conducted a major consultation on the impact of the codes on the social care sector as a whole in 2004. The results of this exercise and other information from the sector suggests that the codes are highly valued by the workforce, are being used in practice, are having a positive effect for service users and are seen as part of everyday activity.
	The GSCC is planning further research on the codes of practice and how they are being embedded and the impact on service users.

General Social Care Council

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate (a) her Department and (b) the General Social Care Council has made of the number of (i) domiciliary care workers, (ii) outreach workers, (iii) residential child workers, (iv) social care managers and (v) staff responsible for recruitment and supervision of social care staff who would be covered by future requirements for registration with the General Social Care Council.

Liam Byrne: There are an estimated 1.4 million social care workers in England, around a quarter of these are people working in domiciliary care.
	Detailed information on the number of social care workers is collected by Skills for Care in relation to adult services and by the Children, Young People and Families Workforce Development Council (CWDC) in relation to children's services.
	During 2004, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) carried out a widespread consultation about the order in which the remaining groups of social care staff should be brought into registration. I am considering that their report of the outcome of this consultation in the context of the continuing development of our social care policies following the publication of the social care Green Papers, "Independence, well-being and choice" and "Every Child Matters". I expect to announce my decision shortly.
	The GSCC will then work closely with Skills for Care and CWDC in preparing for registration of the new groups in the social care work force in light of information about the numbers in each category.

Healthcare and Associated Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 104W, on healthcare and associated infections, what the terms of reference are for the work referred to; what funding is planned for it; and when (a) the confidential study and (b) the qualitative study is expected (i) to start, (ii) to be completed and submitted to Ministers and (iii) published.

Jane Kennedy: The terms of reference are:
	"A national audit of deaths from healthcare associated infections will be established and will investigate a proportion of the deaths that occur, to identify avoidable factors and lessons to be learned from them."
	A sum of £450,000 was allocated from 1 April 2005 for two years. The six month pilot phase of the confidential qualitative study is about to start and an interim report is expected next year. The main phase will be completed in the following 18 months and a report will be submitted to the Department and published at the end of the study. The quantitative study will be undertaken over the same period.

Healthcare and Associated Infections

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will introduce legislation to combat healthcare-associated infection; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: pursuant to the reply, 7 July 2005, Official Report
	I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows:
	We will be publishing on Friday 15 July a consultation document that sets out detailed proposals for tackling healthcare-associated infections, as outlined in the Gracious Speech. Copies will be available in the Library, and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations/fs/en.

Hospitals (Alcohol-related Cases)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) binge drinking and (b) other alcohol-related emergency cases there were in hospitals in (i) England and (ii) Southend in the last period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Data is not collected that could distinguish binge drinking from other alcohol related emergency admissions. The following table shows a count of finished admission episodes for alcohol related cases where the method of admission was emergency in 2003–04.
	
		2003–04
		
			 Primary diagnosis Southend hospital national health service trust England 
		
		
			 F10 mental and behavioural disorder  due to use of alcohol 57 26,049 
			 K70 alcohol liver disease 54 9,251 
			 T51 toxic effect of alcohol 11 1,451 
			 Total 122 36,751 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Human Embryos (Research)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the three additional purposes for which human embryos may be used in research as contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 give effect to the recommendations of the joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission and Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority report Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine that regulations should add the purposes of developing methods of therapy for mitochondrial disease and therapy for diseased or damaged tissues or organs.

Jane Kennedy: Following the report from the Chief Medical Officer's expert group reviewing the potential of developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement to benefit human health 1 , the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 were introduced. They extended the purposes for which the Human Fertilisation Embryology Agency (HFEA) may grant licenses for research involving embryos to include increasing knowledge about the development of embryos, or about serious disease, and enabling any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease.
	The HFEA may only grant licences for research projects if it appears that the activity is necessary or desirable for one or more of the research purposes listed in the Act, as extended by regulations, and the use of human embryos is necessary for the purposes of the research. Licence applications for research projects involving embryos for the purposes of developing methods of therapy for mitochondrial disease and therapy for diseased or damaged tissues or organs are considered in accordance with this procedure. The question of whether something is a serious disease is in the first instance for an HFEA licensing committee, and ultimately for the courts to decide.
	The Government announced on 21 January 2004 their intention to undertake a review of the provisions of the HFEA to ensure that it remains effective in the 21st century. This will include a full public consultation exercise in 2005.
	1 Stem Cell Research: Medical Progress with Responsibility, Department of Health, July 2000.

Malaria

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with malaria in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority area in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures given do not relate to the number of people diagnosed with malaria, but the number of admitted care episodes in national health service hospitals where malaria was the primary diagnosis. Numbers lower than five have been suppressed for reasons of patient confidentiality.
	
		Count of finished admission episodes, strategic health authority of residence—Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Primary diagnosis—malaria (ICD-10=between B50-B54), NHS hospitals, England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			  Strategic health authority Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RD3 Poole hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust 7 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RNZ Salisbury healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RPR Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			
			 2000–01   
			 RDE Essex Rivers healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust 21 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 13 
			 RHS Southampton community health services NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 15 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			
			 2001–02   
			 RA2 Royal Surrey county hospital NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RDZ Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 13 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 10 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust 6 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RPR Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			
			 2002–03   
			 RD7 Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospital (42)— 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 6 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 8 
			 RM2 South Manchester university hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RRV University college London hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RTH Oxford Radcliffe hospital NHS Trust (42)— 
			
			 2003–04   
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 8 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 11 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42)— 
			 RTE Gloucestershire hospitals NHS Trust (42)— 
		
	
	(42) For reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed.
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	4. Malaria defined as one of the ICD-10 codes in the primary diagnosis:
	B50 Plasmodium falciparum malaria
	B51 Plasmodium vivax malaria
	B52 Plasmodium malariae malaria
	B53 Other parasitologically confirmed malaria
	B54 Unspecified malaria
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capital budget of the Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust is for (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08; and how much of this money is (i) allocated to programmes and (ii) unallocated.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 July 2005
	Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust's (PCT) allocations are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Budget allocation (£ million) 
		
		
			 2005–06 70.6 
			 2006–07 84.7 
			 2007–08 94.4 
		
	
	It is for the PCT to decide how it spends the money allocated.

Medical Centres (Attendance)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many attendances at (a) walk-in centres and (b) minor injuries units there were in each quarter since September 2002.

Liam Byrne: Data on the total number of visits to national health service walk-in centres is shown in the table. Data on minor injury units are published in the "Chief Executive's Report to the NHS—Statistical Supplement—May 2005".
	
		Total number of visits to NHS walk-in centres
		
			 Period Number of visits 
		
		
			 October to December 2002 332,586 
			 January to March 2003 335,358 
			 April to June 2003 391,940 
			 July to September 2003 412,829 
			 October to December 2003 387,570 
			 January to March 2004 389,784 
			 April to June 2004 477,667 
			 July to September 2004 503,144 
			 October to December 2004 516,406 
			 January to March 2005 571,305 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health

Mental Health (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical doctors there have been in mental health facilities in the Southend, West constituency in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally by constituency. However, the number of medical staff at mental health trusts who provide care in Essex from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): medical staff within mental health trusts in Essex Strategic Health Authority—as at 30 September each year Number (headcount) and full time equivalents
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			  Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte 
		
		
			 Mental Health Trust Medical Staff 242 205 220 191 222 198 182 164 
			 of which: 
			 Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust 76 63 68 57 63 54 25 23 
			 Mid Essex Community and Mental Health NHS Trust 31 25 28 24 29 24 24 21 
			 New Possibilities NHS Trust 17 10 16 10 14 8 17 11 
			 North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust 42 38 40 35 40 37 40 37 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Essex Mental Health and Community Care  NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 76 72 
			 Southend Community Care NHS Trust 38 36 35 34 36 35 n/a n/a 
			 Thameside Community Health Care NHS Trust 38 33 33 30 40 38 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
			  Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte 
		
		
			 Mental Health Trust Medical Staff 158 144 173 165 176 170 184 173 
			 of which: 
			 Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Mid Essex Community and Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 New Possibilities NHS Trust 15 12 14 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 71 62 81 79 89 84 93 85 
			 South Essex Mental Health and Community Care  NHS Trust 72 70 78 76 87 86 91 89 
			 Southend Community Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Thameside Community Health Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce statistics.

Misuse of Records

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties are laid down for misuse of records by (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) agency NHS employees with access to patient records.

Liam Byrne: There are no centrally laid down penalties for the misuse of patient records, as ensuring that records are managed to appropriate standards is a responsibility of each individual national health service organisation. However, departmental guidance, set out in "Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice", published in November 2003, makes it clear that misuse of patient information should be treated as a serious disciplinary matter, possibly resulting in legal proceedings.

National NHS Database

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made for NHS patients wishing not to have their data recorded on the proposed national NHS database.

Liam Byrne: For national health service patients wishing not to have their data recorded electronically within the NHS care records service (CRS), provision will be made to exercise their rights as provided by section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998. This requires NHS data controllers to cease processing data, where the processing "is causing or is likely to cause substantial damage or distress", where that damage or distress would be unwarranted, the processing is not necessary for compliance with legal obligations and is not necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject.
	Procedures to give effect to these rights in respect of records held electronically within the CRS are being developed by the Department, in consultation with organisations representing the interests of patients and health professionals.

NHS Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated to hospitals in Southend in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: National health service trusts do not receive funding as such as services are commissioned by primary care trusts. However, the income figures for Southend hospital NHS Trust are shown in the following table.
	
		Southend hospital NHS Trust total income £000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 84,509 
			 1998–99 93,139 
			 1999–2000 107,598 
			 2000–01 112,589 
			 2001–02 125,771 
			 2002–03 137,778 
			 2003–04 150,235 
		
	
	Note:
	NHS trusts do not normally receive funding direct from the Department, but receive income for service provision largely from health authorities and primary care trusts. Figures above show the total income of the trust, including all income from activities and all other operating income.
	Sources:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the Southend hospital NHS Trust 1997–98 to 2003–04.

NHS Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of population in Southend West constituency has been in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to provide expenditure on individual constituencies. The expenditure per head on health in South Essex health authority (HA), 1997–99, and the Essex strategic health authority (SHA), 1999–2004, geographical areas, of which Southend West constituency is a part, is shown in the following table.
	
		£ per head
		
			  South Essex HA area Essex SHA area 
		
		
			 1997–98 568.75 n/a 
			 1998–99 636.27 n/a 
			 1999–2000 722.78 n/a 
			 2000–01 806.50 n/a 
			 2001–02 832.87 n/a 
			 2002–03 n/a 850.90 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,034.95 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust (PCT) summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs and PCTs.
	3. Figures for 1997–98 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	4. In many HAs, there are factors which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the HA acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through HAs or PCTs.
	5. The majority of general dental services expenditure is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority. Total expenditure on these items by the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority cannot be allocated to individual health bodies. Therefore, the total expenditure in the answer by HA does not capture all NHS expenditure within the area.
	6. For these reasons expenditure cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
	Sources:
	1. South Essex HA audited accounts 1997–98 and 1998–99.
	2. South Essex HA audited summarisation forms 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
	3. Essex SHA audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	4. PCT audited summarisation schedules 2001–02 and 2003–04 for bodies within the above HA areas' weighted population figures.

NHS Logistics

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what growth occurred in the supply of goods by NHS Logistics, including the share of the NHS consumables market each year since 1997, broken down by (a) volume and (b) value.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority (NHSLA) was formed in April 2000 and the income generated from the supply of goods is shown in the table. During this time, product revenues have grown by an average 8 per cent. per annum, which is a 38 per cent. increase on NHSLA's first year activity.
	
		Actual
		
			  Sales (£000) 
		
		
			 2000–01 529,812 
			 2001–02 560,695 
			 2002–03 593,288 
			 2003–04 677,928 
			 2004–05 732,051 
		
	
	The national health service non-pay spend is circa £13 billion per annum and the consumable healthcare element, the area in which NHSLA operates, is estimated at around £4.2 billion.
	This healthcare element has also grown by an average 8 per cent. per annum, resulting in a stable NHS logistics market share estimated at 18 per cent. by value and 70 per cent. by volume.

NHS Supplies Service

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether additional warehouse capacity that may be required for the expansion of the NHS supplies service provided by NHS Logistics or its successor should be (a) rented and (b) purchased.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority has undertaken as assessment of its future warehouse capacity requirements. This indicated that the preferred option for future provision of additional capacity was through a contract with a third party service provider. The third party provider would be responsible for the provision of warehousing capacity and other resources needed to fulfil the contract.

Nurses

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to reduce the NHS's use of agency and bank nurses.

Liam Byrne: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) today.

Organ Donation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of organ donor programmes.

Rosie Winterton: "Saving Lives, Valuing Donors—A Transplant Framework for England", sets out our key aims for transplantation including initiatives to encourage more people to donate organs and tissues. The Department has provided more than £10 million to UK Transplant to promote the organ donor register and support hospital-based initiatives. In 2005–06, we have provided over £100,000 of section 64 funding to charities promoting organ donation and supporting patient groups. The success of the various local and national campaigns has resulted in over 12.3 million people now registered on the organ donor register and in 2003–04 the highest number of organ transplants ever performed in the United Kingdom.
	From 1 October 2005, NHS Blood and Transplant will look for further opportunities to raise the profile of organ donation.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent on developing the Paddington basin health campus project, broken down by the date on which the costs were incurred; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Expenditure by year for Paddington health campus project and forecast to 30 June 2005 is shown in the table. The money spent is committed to proportionate to the size and complexity of the project involved. Details on the cost involved in this project have been released in London strategic health authority board papers and, at different stages in the lifetime of this project, through other channels—in most cases, answers to parliamentary questions. We shall draw on the experience of this project in taking forward alternative developments in north west London.
	
		Expenditure by year for Paddington health campus project and forecast to 30 June 2005 £000
		
			  WLPF PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC and WLPF 
			 PHC spend by year from 1999 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 from 1 April 2005 to 30 June 2005 total cost to 30 June 2005 
		
		
			 Advisers 1,479 231 520 947 2,991 1,536 112 7,816 
			 Pay 155 209 360 843 1,531 1,389 269 4,756 
			 Accommodation and other project costs 18 62 46 309 416 337 79 1,267 
			 Total 1,652 502 926 2,099 4,938 3,262 460 13,840 
			  
			 Estimated direct costs from Partnerships UK  (PUK)(44) — — — 282 388 497 0 1,167 
		
	
	(44) Not charged to budgets—but payable by trusts on termination of project—additional commitment
	Notes:
	1. Carrying costs are chargeable on PUK direct and indirect costs—to be advised (and direct/indirect charges confirmed) by PUK.
	2. Paddington Development Corporation Ltd is claiming costs totalling 257,000 following termination of the collaboration agreement. The trusts are taking legal advice in respect of the claim. They have provisioned for the claim in their 2004–05 accounts. The cost of the claim is excluded from the above.
	3. WLPF—West London Partnership Forum (hosted by former Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority.
	4. PHC—Paddington health campus (St. Mary's NHS Trust as paymaster).

Patient Choice

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted into NHS patient choice in the provision of primary medical services; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department has recently commissioned a survey by MORI to explore the choices in primary care which people exercise or would like to exercise. In addition, we are able to draw upon the response to the consultation "Choice, responsiveness and equity in the NHS and social care" which preceded publication of "Building on the Best". Patient choice is also expected to be a theme of the forthcoming public consultation on out of hospital services, announced by the Secretary of State on 23 June 2005.

Photodynamic Therapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations she has received about the development of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of cancer in the NHS; when and from whom each was received; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the NHS as a treatment for cancer; what plans she has to fund further research into the use of PDT; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Department has received representations about photodynamic therapy (PDT) from several correspondents; a list of these correspondents is not collated centrally. David Longman, director of "Killing Cancer", has made recent representations about PDT.
	As part of its programme of work on interventional procedures, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is looking at the use of PDT in the treatment of several cancers. NICE has already issued guidance on the use of PDT in the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus and advanced bronchial carcinoma and is preparing guidance on the use of PDT in the treatment of bile duct cancer, skin tumours and advanced bronchial carcinoma.
	The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The Department is not directly funding research on photodynamic therapy for cancer, but is providing national health service support through the national cancer research network for two trials of photodynamic therapy for biliary tract cancers.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including a number concerned with photodynamic therapy, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Primary Care Trusts

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita funding for primary care trusts in (a) West Sussex, (b) Kent, (c) Durham and (d) the East Riding of Yorkshire was in each of the last five years; what the average for England was for each year; and what estimate has been made of allocations for the next five years.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the per capita funding for 2000–01 to 2007–08, as well as the England average. Allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) are based on the population weighted for a number of factors.
	The 2003–04 to 2005–06 revenue allocations to PCTs increased by an average of 30.8 per cent.
	The PCT revenue allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 increased by an average of 19.5 per cent. Revenue allocations to PCTs for 2008–09 onwards have not yet been determined.
	
		Allocation per head of population
		
			 Health authority (HA)/PCT 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 West Sussex 
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 678 718 790 1,009 1,104 1,207 1,389 1,491 
			 Crawley 678 718 790 796 871 953 1,137 1,245 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 678 718 790 753 820 892 1,002 1,094 
			 Mid-Sussex 678 718 790 783 853 927 1,132 1,222 
			 Western Sussex 678 718 790 952 1,036 1,127 1,356 1,454 
			  
			 East Kent 
			 Ashford 726 777 854 845 924 1,010 1,133 1,237 
			 Canterbury and Coastal 726 777 854 925 1,007 1,095 1,222 1,322 
			 East Kent Coastal 726 777 854 1,021 1,119 1,224 1,412 1,541 
			 Shepway 726 777 854 980 1,073 1,173 1,333 1,453 
			 West Kent 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley 629 672 741 870 949 1,034 1,206 1,316 
			 Maidstone Weald 629 672 741 783 857 939 1,101 1,201 
			 Medway 629 672 741 780 857 939 1,126 1,254 
			 South West Kent 629 672 741 791 862 939 1,099 1,194 
			 Swale 629 672 741 839 923 1,012 1,185 1,338 
			  
			 County Durham
			 Darlington 745 808 884 1,006 1,096 1,189 1,398 1,508 
			 Derwentside 745 808 884 1,041 1,143 1,249 1,460 1,592 
			 Durham and Chester-le-Street 745 808 884 897 978 1,062 1,248 1,357 
			 Durham Dales 745 808 884 1,024 1,117 1,216 1,436 1,561 
			 Easington 745 808 884 1,030 1,158 1,296 1,664 1,912 
			 Sedgefield 745 808 884 1,011 1,108 1,210 1,442 1,576 
			  
			 East Riding 
			 East Yorkshire 677 741 814 834 909 987 1,114 1,209 
			 Eastern Hull 677 741 814 999 1,094 1,195 1,412 1,541 
			 West Hull 677 741 814 981 1,070 1,163 1,373 1,489 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast 677 741 814 890 970 1,052 1,175 1,287 
			 England average 689 738 817 916 1,003 1,097 1,274 1,388 
		
	
	Notes:
	There are several reasons why comparisons between allocations rounds cannot be made. For example:
	1. 1999–2000 was the first year that unified allocations were made to HAs to cover hospital and community health services (HCHS), prescribing and general medical services cash limited;
	2. 2003–04 was the first year revenue allocations were made direct to PCTs for three years. Prior to 2003–04, revenue allocations were made to HAs oh an annual basis. Prior to 2003–04, the table has assumed the same allocation per head across the strategic health authority area;
	3. 2006–07 is the first year that primary medical services were incorporated into revenue allocations.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to merge primary care trusts; and what (a) discussions she has had and (b) representations she has received on this issue.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are central to improving the health of their population by commissioning high quality care.
	"Creating a patient-led NHS" sets out the next stages of system reform and makes clear that the impact of the creation of foundation trusts, the new financial regime including payment by results, free choice in elective, the delegation of commissioning to general practitioner practices and the bringing together of contract management and administration into shared services means that PCTs will need to change and develop.
	The Department has set in train the preparation of guidance on the process and timescale for developing PCTs to ensure a broad consistency of approach across the country. This will be issued as soon as it is ready.

Prostate Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with representatives of (a) patient groups and (b) professional organisations on the implementation of the waiting times targets for prostate cancer patients;
	(2)  what safeguards she plans to put in place to ensure that the cancer waiting time targets allow prostate cancer patients time to reflect before deciding on an appropriate course of treatment;
	(3)  what steps she has taken to inform (a) professionals, (b) hospitals trusts and (c) patient support groups of issues relating to the implementation of waiting time targets for prostate cancer patients;
	(4)  what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that prostate cancer patients are not directed towards a less effective form of treatment so as to meet waiting time targets.

Rosie Winterton: holding answers 7 July 2005
	The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. There are two targets for prostate cancer to be achieved from December 2005; of a maximum 31 day wait from diagnosis of prostate cancer to start of treatment and 62 days from urgent referral for suspected prostate cancer to first treatment.
	A national cancer waits project was set up in December 2004 and has held two national conferences on achievement of the 2005 waiting times targets. An expert reference group, chaired by the national cancer director, consisting of representatives from special health authorities, primary care trusts, senior clinicians and national health service managers meets regularly to advise the project and discuss NHS implementation of the targets. The prostate advisory group, which includes membership from prostate charities, also discussed prostate cancer waits at its last meeting.
	If a patient tells a clinician that they need time to reflect before deciding on treatment, then clinicians are allowed to suspend the time patients need to consider their treatment options. This means that when monitoring the time taken to achieve the targets, this time does not count as part of the 31 and 62 day waiting times. This ensures that patients have enough time to make the right decision about their favoured treatment option. Decisions on the best treatment for each individual cancer patient must remain a clinical decision made by a multi disciplinary team. The targets ensure that agreed treatment is delivered quickly.

Residential Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of extra-care tenants died in (a) their extra-care home and (b) in hospital in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of residents of nursing and residential care homes died (a) in their care home and (b) in hospital in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The data is not centrally available.

Skin Cancer

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of skin cancer linked to exposure to the sun have been reported in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Mark Tami, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many cases of skin cancer linked to exposure to the sun have been reported in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (9213)
	The most recent available figures for the incidence of melanoma skin cancer are for the year 2002. Numbers of cases by sex for the years 1998 to 2002 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin cancer(47) in England, by sex, 1998–2002 Number of cases
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Males 2,149 2,161 2,541 2,638 2,832 
			 Females 2,851 2,880 3,280 3,424 3,584 
			 Total 5,000 5,041 5,821 6,062 6,416 
		
	
	(47) Melanoma skin cancer is coded to C43 in the 10th edition of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10).
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	Information on whether or not cases of skin cancer are linked to sun exposure is not available centrally.

Sterilisers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sterilisers for decontaminating surgical instruments were (a) over 16 years, (b) 11 to 15 years and (c) 10 or less years old in NHS hospitals in England, in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by health authority; and what proportion of the total number of sterilizers this represents in each case.

Jane Kennedy: We do not routinely collect information about the number of sterilizers and their ages. Information collected in compiling the comprehensive survey report, "A Review of the Decontamination of Surgical Instruments in the NHS in England", published in December 2001, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Age (years) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Less than 5 251 29 
			 6–10 200 22 
			 11–15 199 27 
			 Greater than 16 242 27 
		
	
	As part of phase one of the decontamination programme, 160 sterilizers were procured by the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) for NHS trusts in England. We have no information on sterilizers that may have been bought by NHS Trusts without involving NHS PASA.

Trans Fats

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will introduce legislation to control trans fats in food products;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure that food labelling includes details of trans fats.

Caroline Flint: The Government is concerned about the possible health effects, in particular on coronary health, from consuming certain fats. Based on independent expert advice, the Government considers saturated fat intake reduction of particular public health significance and is working to reduce fat intakes, which will include both saturated and trans fatty acids. Currently average population dietary intakes of trans fats in the United Kingdom are considerably lower than those recommended by the committee on medical aspects of food policy (1994). There are currently no plans to introduce legislation to control the amount of trans fats in foods.
	The Government is pressing for the labelling of trans fatty acids in foods at European Union level.

Waiting Times

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for an appointment at a drug rehabilitation clinic in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and if she will list the clinics available in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: All drug action teams have to report waiting times figures to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse each quarter. The waiting time is defined as the time between the date an individual is first referred, or self-refers, for treatment, to the date he or she is admitted for structured treatment, following assessment.
	The latest average waiting times figures for Lancashire are for the first quarter of 2005—January to March—and shown in the following table. Comparison is made with the waiting times in December 2001, when collection of waiting times began.
	
		Lancashire Weeks
		
			  Average wait 
			 Treatment modality December 2001 March 2005 
		
		
			 In-patient treatment 12 3 
			 Residential rehabilitation 12 0 
			 Specialist prescribing 12 9 
			 General practitioner prescribing 12 3 
			 Structured day care 12 1 
			 Structured counselling 12 2 
		
	
	Data is not reported on a sub-drug action team basis, so data for Chorley is not included in this response.

Alcohol (Under-age Sales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many successful prosecutions were brought against shops and off-licences for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age in England and Wales in each year between 1984 and 2004;
	(2)  how many convictions were made for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age in England and Wales in each year from 1984 to 2004.

Hazel Blears: The number of prosecutions and convictions for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age including those against shops and off-licences, in England and Wales 1984 to 2003, are contained in the table.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age, England and Wales 1984 to 2003(48)(49)
		
			  Offence description  Statute  Year Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional 1984 314 164 
			 persons under 18 for consumption Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1) 1985 274 170 
			 on the premises  1986 296 165 
			   1987 333 167 
			   1988 673 357 
			   1989 747 388 
			   1990 574 273 
			   1991 309 155 
			   1992 195 87 
			   1993 156 70 
			   1994 137 83 
			   1995 198 108 
			   1996 251 119 
			   1997 214 125 
			   1998 310 157 
			   1999 204 115 
			   2000 130 56 
			   2001 155 53 
			   2002 168 105 
			   2003 604 416 
			  
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor Licensing Act 1964, Sec.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1984 (50)— (50)— 
			 to a person under 18 1988, Sec17. 1985 (50)— (50)— 
			   1986 (50)— (50)— 
			   1987 (50)— (50)— 
			   1988 (50)— (50)— 
			   1989 1 — 
			   1990 4 1 
			   1991 1 1 
			   1992 — — 
			   1993 — — 
			   1994 1 — 
			   1995 — — 
			   1996 — — 
			   1997 1 1 
			   1998 1 1 
			   1999 1 — 
			   2000 2 — 
			   2001 3 — 
			   2002 2 — 
			   2003 12 3 
		
	
	(48) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(49) Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.
	(50) Not available.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in (a) Pembrokeshire and (b) the Dyfed Powys police force area during each year since their introduction.

Hazel Blears: Data on convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 and are available at the criminal justice system (CJS) area level only. Of the 11 ASBOs reported to the Home office as having been issued in the Dyfed Powys CJS area (which is coterminous with the police force area) during this period, five were breached on one or more occasions (all for the first time in 2003).Breach data for 2004 will be available towards the end of the year.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those applying for asylum in the UK who had their application fast tracked during 2004 were detained for the duration of their application process; and what the average time taken to process a fast track application was in 2004.

Tony McNulty: There are two separate detained fast track processes, which were operating in 2004. The Oakington process, which incorporates Non-Suspensive Appeals (NSA) and the Detained Fast Track at Harmondsworth.
	During 2004, 6,520 applicants entered the Oakington process. The average length of stay for a detainee is not recorded centrally. However, the fast track process at Oakington is intended for claims which, upon initial screening, appear capable of being decided quickly in about 7 to14 days. Claimants from countries listed on the designated NSA list at Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 are subject to the NSA procedure from the outset. Claimants who receive a clearly unfounded decision at Oakington can be immediately removed. Some claimants may stay at Oakington after their NSA decision pending re-documentation or because they are seeking to pursue a judicial review. Where appropriate to do so, they are detained at Oakington pending removal, others may be moved to other centres. The majority of claimants who do not receive a certified decision are released on temporary admission on completion of the Oakington process whilst their appeal is processed.
	During 2004, 1,105 asylum applicants entered the Detained Fast Track at Harmondsworth. Since its inception in April 2003, the average time of detention for applicants in the fast track stands at 44 days from arrival at Harmondsworth to release and/or removal, this information is based on internal management information as such is not published within the official statistics.

Asylum Seekers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were received from Eritrean nationals in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02, (c) 2002–03, (d) 2003–04 and (e) 2004–05; and how many Eritrean nationals were deported in each year.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum applications and asylum removals are published quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(55) of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, nationals of Eritrea, financial year 2001–02 to 2004–05(56)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000–01 n/a 
			 2001–02(57) 5 
			 2002–03(57) * 
			 2003–04(57)(58) 20 
			 2004–05(58) 60 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(55) Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(56) Figures rounded to the nearest five and * = 1 or 2, may not sum due to rounding.
	(57) Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.
	(58) Provisional figures.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department has collated on the retirement of people whose applications for asylum in the UK are refused and who are returned to Zimbabwe.

Tony McNulty: We have not received any corroborated reports of systematic mistreatment of returnees to Zimbabwe. We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. But our assessment of the situation on the ground is constantly monitored from a wide variety of sources, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, media reports and UK Government contacts with NGOs on the ground. Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with those NGOs operating within the country we follow up any specific allegations of ill-treatment of returned failed asylum seekers. The country of origin information used by Home Office caseworkers is publicly available on the Home Office website.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of alerts from the automatic number plate recognition system have been false positives; and what proportion related to (a) stolen vehicles, (b) non-payment of vehicle excise duty, (c) expired MOT certificates and (d) absence of insurance.

Paul Goggins: During Project Laser Two, the evaluation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) usage, a total of 101,775 vehicles were stopped by the police.
	This study showed the following accuracy levels of databases used by the police:
	Local force databases—83 per cent.
	Police National Computer (PNC)—79 per cent.
	Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)—40 per cent.
	The PNC contains many more information reports than stolen vehicles, such as those used by persons wanted by the police. It is not possible, therefore, to identify "false positives" by the category of stolen vehicle alone. The police do not currently utilise databases specifically relating to expired Ministry of Transport (MOT) Certificates or the absence of insurance.
	The Home Office is working closely with the Department for Transport to provide a method for electronically transferring data from the DVLA to the police so that information exchange is more timely and accurate. This is in addition to other improvements being made in this area by the DVLA such as the bar coding of Vehicle Excise Licences at the point of issue.

Clear-up Rates

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to define the clearance of a crime for the purposes of reporting statistics on clear-up of offences by police forces in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Hazel Blears: The way in which police forces in England and Wales should record and detect crime is governed by the Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime. Section H of the General Rules in that document gives detailed information regarding the detecting of offences.
	A copy of the Counting Rules is available on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html

Community Sentences

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) female and (b) male offenders have received community penalties in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is shown in table form for the years 1997–2003, which is the latest year for which data is currently available.
	
		Persons sentenced to community sentences 1997 to 2003 Percentage
		
			  Female Male 
		
		
			 1997 8.7 10.5 
			 1998 8.9 10.5 
			 1999 10.1 11.0 
			 2000 9.2 11.4 
			 2001 10.6 12.7 
			 2002 11.0 13.7 
			 2003 10.9 13.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Sentencing Statistics, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 05/05, published February 2005.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality will reply to the letter dated 10 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Ms R. Dyka of Boddam.

Tony McNulty: The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) wrote on 13 June.

Criminal Prosecutions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been found guilty of committing a crime in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of young people found guilty at all courts for all offences, in South Tyneside PSA, the North East region and England and Wales, 1997 to 2003 are contained in table A. It is not possible to identify those offenders in the Jarrow constituency, as the data does not go down to this level of detail.
	In addition to court proceedings statistics, the number of young people of school age given Reprimands or Final Warnings in the North East region and England and Wales are provided in table B.
	Statistics for 2004 court proceedings will be available in the autumn.
	
		Table A: Number of young offenders of school age found guilty at all courts for all offences, 1997 to 2003(60)(61)
		
			 Location 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 South Tyneside(62) 157 263 282 281 326 442 441 
			 North East region 4,273 5,018 5,275 4,810 4,531 4,483 4,288 
			 England and Wales 45,561 50,990 54,266 55,954 59,152 58,171 57,144 
		
	
	(60) Young offenders of school age, aged 10–16 years.
	(61) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(62) Includes Crown court where South Tyneside was the committing court.
	
		Table B: Number of young offenders of school age given a reprimand or final warning for all offences, 1997 to 2003(63)(64)
		
			  Location 
			  North East region England and Wales 
		
		
			 1997 8,578 83,822 
			 1998 7,344 89,083 
			 1999 6,741 84,786 
			 2000 6,648 81,806 
			 2001 6,764 82,839 
			 2002 6,711 71,433 
			 2003 6,670 75,906 
		
	
	(63) Young offenders of school age, aged 10–16 years.
	(64) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which individuals and organisations were consulted in drawing up the criteria for referral to the Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder programme.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder programme (DSPD) is a pilot aimed at developing and evaluating pilot treatment services for dangerous offenders whose offending is linked to severe personality disorder. The referral and assessment processes are key elements of the pilot and are therefore also subject to on-going development and evaluation.
	In establishing the current criteria for referral and assessment for the DSPD programme the following individuals and organisations were consulted:
	Dr. David Thornton (Sand Ridge Sex Offender Treatment Centre, USA)
	Dr. Linda Blud (HM Prison Service)
	Ms. Gill Attrill (HM Prison Service)
	Dr. Caroline Logan (University of Liverpool)
	Ms Pam Wilson (HM Prison Service)
	Prof. Don Grubin (Newcastle University)
	Prof. Anthony Maden (Broadmoor Hospital)
	Dr. Todd Hogue (Rampton Hospital)
	Prof. Steven Hart (Simon Fraser University, Canada)
	Mr. Ed Wozniak (Scottish Prison Service)
	Dr. Kevin Douglas (University of South Florida, USA)
	Prof. Brian Ferguson (Nottinghamshire Health Trust)
	The DSPD Expert advisory group, which advises on all aspects of the programme, was also consulted. This group comprised the following individuals.
	Prof. E.S. Paykel (University of Cambridge)
	Prof. Jeremy Coid (Queen Mary College and East London and City Mental Health NHS trust)
	Dr. Steve Wong (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)
	Prof. Ronald Blackburn (University of Liverpool)
	Prof. David Cooke (Douglas Inch Centre and Glasgow Caledonian University)
	Prof Kevin Gournay (Institute of Psychiatry)
	Ms. Kathryn Harney (Department of Health and University of Liverpool)
	Prof. Sheilagh Hodgins (Institute of Psychiatry)
	Prof. Roy King (University of Wales)
	Dr. Pete Snowden (Ashworth Hospital)
	Prof. Peter Tyrer (Imperial College London).
	Key clinicians and stakeholders from HM Prison Service and the Department of Health were also consulted. This included the involvement of the DSPD units themselves. The DSPD referral and assessment criteria have also been presented and discussed at a variety of fora including academic conferences, the Royal College of Psychiatry and legal representatives.

Dovegate Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Director General of the National Offender Management Service visited Dovegate Prison on or around 6 August 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: Martin Narey, Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, visited Dovegate prison on 6 August 2004.

Firearms Offences

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by the police in which (a) a firearm was alleged to have been used and (b) an identified firearm other than an air weapon was alleged to have been used in (i) England and (ii) Wales from 1994 to 2004 in (A) total and (B) as a percentage of all crimes.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Recorded crimes involving firearms (excluding air weapons)
		
			  England and Wales Wales England All recorded crimes Percentage of firearm crimes to all recorded firearms 
		
		
			 1994 5,822 n/a n/a 5,252,980 0.11 
			 1995 5,866 79 5,787 5,100,241 0.12 
			 1996 6,063 116 5,947 5,036,552 0.12 
			 1997 4,904 85 4,819 4,598,357 0.11 
			 1997–98 4,903 95 4,808 4,545,337 0.11 
			 1998–99(66) 5,209 100 5,109 5,109,089 0.10 
			 1999–2000 6,843 94 6,749 5,301,187 0.13 
			 2000–01 7,470 110 7,360 5,170,843 0.14 
			 2001–02(67) 10,023 106 9,917 5,525,024 0.18 
			 2002–03(68) 10,248 161 10,087 5,898,560 0.17 
			 2003–04 10,338 169 10,169 5,934,580 0.17 
		
	
	
		Recorded crimes involving firearms (including air weapons)
		
			  England and Wales Wales England All recorded crimes Percentage of firearm crimes to all recorded firearms 
		
		
			 1994 12,977 449 12,528 5,252,980 0.25 
			 1995 13,104 635 12,469 5,100,241 0.26 
			 1996 13,013 401 12,612 5,036,552 0.26 
			 1997 12,410 342 12,068 4,598,357 0.27 
			 1998–99(66) 13,874 591 13,283 5,109,089 0.27 
			 1999–2000 16,946 712 16,234 5,301,187 0.32 
			 2000–01 17,697 614 17,083 5,170,843 0.34 
			 2001–02(67) 22,400 431 21,969 5,525,024 0.41 
			 2002–03(68) 24,070 938 23,132 5,898,560 0.41 
			 2003–04 24,094 920 23,174 5,934,580 0.41 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(66) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998.
	(67) Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of national implementation.
	(68) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after this date are not directly comparable.

Firearms Offences

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many air weapon offences have been committed in England and Wales by persons aged (a) 14, (b) 15, (c) 16, (d) 17 and (e) over 18 years since the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 came into force.

Hazel Blears: Offences under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, Section 37 came into force on 20 January 2004. Statistics of court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn of 2005.

Illegal Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recently announced figures for people estimated to be illegally in the country included dependants; and what methodology was used to calculate the total.

Tony McNulty: The estimate of the size unauthorised (illegal) population contained in RDS online report 29/05—"Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" includes foreign born dependants. The methodology used is described on pages two to four of the report.

Licensed Premises (Violent Crime)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 764W, on Licensed Premises (violent crime), when he expects the statistics for violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises in each police area for 2004–05 to be available.

Hazel Blears: Data is expected to be available in autumn 2005.

Live8 Concert (Policing)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the commissioner for the Metropolitan police regarding the use of police officers from other forces to help police the Live8 concert; and what additional funding his Department will provide to meet these costs.

Hazel Blears: No discussions have been held with the commissioner, who is responsible for the operations of the Metropolitan Police Service.
	He informs me that policing the 'Live 8' concert in Hyde Park involved a joint operation by the service and the British Transport police. No mutual aid from other forces will be required. No additional funding will be sought from the Government and, because of the charitable nature of the event, no charges will be levied on the organisers of the event.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on recouping the costs of bed and board incurred during imprisonment from the compensation moneys paid to people wrongly imprisoned due to miscarriages of justice.

Fiona Mactaggart: While the Home Secretary decides whether an applicant qualifies for compensation in respect of a miscarriage of justice, the assessment of the amount of compensation is undertaken by an Assessor appointed by him under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (currently Lord Brennan QC). The amount of an award is wholly a matter for the Assessor, and the Home Secretary has no power to influence or vary his determination.
	Saved living expenses for the period an applicant spent in prison are frequently referred to, incorrectly, as deductions for "bed and board" or "board and lodging". The compensation process involves two separate and distinct concepts of loss: pecuniary and non-pecuniary loss. The pecuniary element, the quantifiable financial loss, is intended to put the applicant back into the financial position they would have been in but for their wrongful conviction, but not to a position better than that. Any deduction for saved living expenses is made by the Assessor in respect of the costs an applicant would have been required to pay out of their net income, for example rent or mortgage payments. The deduction is restricted to the pecuniary loss element only, and is not intended to cover optional or enhanced expenditure, such as luxuries and leisure activities. A minimal monthly expenditure is therefore deducted.
	The non-pecuniary loss award, however, is in recognition of, for example, loss of reputation, loss of liberty, hardship, mental suffering, injury to feelings, and inconvenience. It is an award in recognition of the miscarriage of justice itself.

Missing Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 766W, on missing children, what assessment his Department has made of the viability of collecting this information.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has no plans to centrally collect this information. However, we have been working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Missing Persons Helpline to establish joint working arrangements to improve the recording and information sharing and exchange, in order to improve the way in which missing persons are dealt with. Part of this work includes the establishment of a comprehensive national police database of missing and unidentified people reported either to the police or the helpline.

Motoring Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were convicted of motoring offences in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

Hazel Blears: The information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is contained in the tables and gives the number of males and females found guilty of motoring offences by offence class in Southend, Essex police force area and England and Wales 1999 to 2003. Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty of motoring offences by gender and offence class at all courts in England and Wales, 1999 to 2003(71)
		
			  Males 
			 Offence class 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Dangerous driving 3,871 3,974 4,046 4,760 5,236 
			 Driving etc, after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 71,637 68,762 68,185 72,444 74,242 
			 Careless driving 29,180 25,187 22,486 19,890 18,115 
			 Accident offences 4,994 4,640 4,881 4,808 5,078 
			 Driving licence related offences 37,800 37,931 39,259 42,169 49,580 
			 Vehicle insurance offences 149,478 153,891 151,229 163,823 185,285 
			 Vehicle registration and Excise licence offences 7,734 8,899 10,522 14,763 18,841 
			 Work record or employment offences 4,709 4,197 3,503 2,931 2,654 
			 Operator's licence offences 1,132 1,183 901 712 522 
			 Vehicle Test offences 19,378 15,878 13,573 12,295 13,367 
			 Fraud, forgery, etc associated with vehicle or driver record 3,737 3,177 3,220 3,039 2,973 
			 Vehicle, or part, in dangerous or defective condition 13,740 10,950 8,704 7,284 6,656 
			 Speed limit offences 125,076 113,660 107,890 97,640 109,664 
			 Motorway offence (other than speeding) 1,260 1,816 1,330 1,612 1,101 
			 Neglect of traffic directions 21,344 21,566 19,837 17,842 17,387 
			 Neglect of pedestrian rights 3,597 2,696 2,174 1,823 1,901 
			 Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 11,454 9,606 8,986 8,710 9,088 
			 Lighting offences 3,904 2,913 2,274 2,146 2,071 
			 Noise offences 1,011 756 646 467 419 
			 Load offences 8,117 7,764 6,274 5,083 5,180 
			 Offences peculiar to motor cycles 210 255 258 218 224 
			 Miscellaneous offences (including trailer offences) 33,722 31,390 29,993 34,650 46,892 
			 Total 557,085 531,091 510,171 519,109 576,476 
		
	
	
		
			  Females 
			 Offence class 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Dangerous driving 137 116 128 155 215 
			 Driving etc, after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 7,868 7,984 7,924 8,989 9,539 
			 Careless driving 6,017 5,280 4,394 3,875 3,406 
			 Accident offences 758 803 813 783 884 
			 Driving licence related offences 2,729 2,882 2,695 2,914 3,512 
			 Vehicle Insurance Offences 17,813 18,282 16,916 18,988 22,008 
			 Vehicle registration and Excise licence offences 1,682 2,106 2,478 3,959 4,916 
			 Work record or employment offences 92 65 71 40 44 
			 Operator's licence offences 40 35 28 28 25 
			 Vehicle test offences 2,407 1,984 1,542 1,503 1,581 
			 Fraud, forgery, etc associated with vehicle or driver record 338 282 293 285 272 
			 Vehicle, or part, in dangerous or defective condition 1,068 840 687 647 519 
			 Speed limit offences 20,500 20,443 21,178 21,147 24,262 
			 Motorway offence (other than speeding) 116 277 158 184 100 
			 Neglect of traffic directions 4,254 4,407 4,151 4,016 3,799 
			 Neglect of pedestrian rights 630 542 415 390 360 
			 Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 3,141 2,636 2,605 2,570 2,729 
			 Lighting offences 342 299 250 237 220 
			 Noise offences 83 87 53 45 30 
			 Load offences 210 198 175 140 130 
			 Offences peculiar to motor cycles 11 17 17 14 17 
			 Miscellaneous offences (including trailer offences) 6,869 7,584 7,107 7,856 9,467 
			 Total 77,105 77,149 74,078 78,765 88,035 
		
	
	(71) These data are on the principal offence basis

Murder Rate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the murder rate per 1,000 of the population in (a) the constituency of Southend West and (b) England and Wales was in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Figures are provided for homicide (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) as, at the time of recording, the nature of the killing is often not known. Information for Southend West is not available. The available data relates to the Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and homicide data at CDRP level has only been collected since 2001–02. Available data are given in the following table.
	
		Homicide rate per 1,000 population
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Southend
			 Homicide 5 6 2 
			 Rate/1,000 population 0.028 0.037 0.013 
			 
			 England and Wales
			 Homicide 891 (72)1,043 853 
			 Rate/1,000 population 0.017 0.020 0.016 
		
	
	(72) In 2002–03, 172 victims of Dr. Harold Shipman were recorded, all of which relate to offences committed in previous years.

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department's information held on alleged Nazi war criminals includes information on any persons who were formerly detained in the category known as black prisoners of war during the second world war; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information of this nature is not held centrally and to provide would incur disproportionate cost.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken in the last two financial years to improve the health and safety of staff at probation hostels in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: The "Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy" was launched by the Director General of Probation in March 2003. This followed a national audit on the levels of compliance with health and safety legislation in the 42 probation areas. This strategy has improved health and safety in probation hostels by introducing a national accident/incident recording system, by the prioritisation of the identification of asbestos and providing risk assessments with management guidance and best practice.
	The National Probation Service has also been working in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive, Probation Boards Association and trade unions in order to develop and implement a first class health and safety management system.

Sentencing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collects on the average sentence imposed for similar crimes in different police and courts' service areas; and for which crimes such information is available.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on sentence lengths for all crimes is collected in all criminal justice and petty-sessional areas. Selected data is published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Sentencing Statistics" and in the Criminal Statistics Supplementary Volumes. The "Sentencing Statistics" Bulletin for 2003, published in February 2005, includes the average sentences for major offence groups such as "violence against the person", "sexual offences", etc. for individual areas. The Criminal Statistics Supplementary Volumes provide more detailed information for individual offences.

Speed Cameras

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been raised from speed cameras in each of the last five years; how much of this money has been retained by road safety partnerships; and how much has been kept by the Government.

Hazel Blears: While information is not available on the amount of fines paid following speed offences detected by camera, table A shows the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid for the offence of 'speeding detected by camera' in the calendar years 1999 to 2003 (latest available). Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid. Information for 2004 will be available in early 2006.
	I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport that the revenue figures for the National Safety Camera Programme in England and Wales are available from the start of the netting-off scheme as given in table B. The table shows data by financial year and indicates the number of Safety Camera Partnerships participating in the programme at each stage. It is only fixed penalty income from offences detected by cameras within the national scheme that can be netted off. Except where special provisions apply, such as have been made for supporting the operation of approved safety camera, the whole of offenders' fines normally accrue to the Consolidated Fund.
	Details of programme funding for 2000–01 to 2002–03 are given in "The national safety camera programme—three-year evaluation report", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, and are available from the Department for Transport website.
	
		Table A: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(73) England and Wales, 1999 to 2003 Number of offences
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(74) 
			  Number of tickets(75) Estimated revenue(76)(£) Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine (£) 
		
		
			 1999 423,000 16,920,000 32,300 3,434,000 106 
			 2000 599,200 25,965,000 31,800 3,400,000 107 
			 2001 877,500 52,650,000 40,500 4,510,000 111 
			 2002 1,135,000 68,122,000 46,300 4,778,000 103 
			 2003 1,657,000 99,423,000 61,300 6,572,000 107 
		
	
	1 Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	2 Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. 3 Only covers tickets paid where there is no further action. 4 Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. Raised to £60 from November 2000.
	
		Table B: Revenue figures for the National Safety Camera Programme in England and Wales, 2000–01 to 2003–04(73) £
		
			 Year and (number of partnerships participating in programme) Receipts from fixed penalties Expenditure Balance, accruing to the Consolidated Fund 
		
		
			 2000–01 10,362,440 8,985,247 1,367,193 
			 (7 partnerships)
			 
			 2001–02 19,660,780 16,106,559 3,554,221 
			 (7 partnership, 14 from October 2001)
			 
			 2002–03 68,872,320 54,256,502 14,615,818 
			 (23 partnerships, 25 from July 2002, 29 from October 2002)
			 
			 2003–04 (Provisional) 112,200,000 91,800,000 20,400,000 
			 (35 partnerships)

UK Citizenship

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English in each of the last 10 years, broken down by nationality.

Tony McNulty: The latest available statistics on the number of people that have been refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English in the last 10 years can be found in the table.
	Data for 1995 to 2001 does not include nationality data as this was not reported at the time.
	Information on grants of UK citizenship is published annually in the Home Office bulletin "Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom", available on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		Person refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English, 1995 to 2004
		
			 Nationality 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Afghanistan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— n/a 
			 Algeria n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— 
			 Angola n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Argentina n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bangladesh n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 5 n/a 
			 Bosnia—Herzegovina n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Colombia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Eritrea n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Ethopia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Former Yugoslavia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 India n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— n/a 
			 Iran n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Iraq n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— (73)— n/a 
			 Lebanon n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Pakistan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— (73)— 
			 Peoples republic of China n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Somalia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— 
			 Thailand n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Turkey n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 10 15 10 
			 Vietnam n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73)— n/a n/a 
			 Stateless n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total 25 30 50 55 30 25 20 20 20 10 
		
	
	n/a = Data unavailable.
	(73) Negligible (i.e. two or less).
	Note:
	Data is rounded to nearest five.

Worker Registration Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government has commissioned research into the efficiency of the worker registration scheme; and how many people have registered with the scheme since 1 May 2004, broken down by country.

Tony McNulty: No research into the efficiency of the scheme has yet been commissioned. The scheme will be reviewed after two years of its operation.

Young Offenders

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalties have been imposed on the contractors for (a) Hassockfield, (b) Medway, (c) Rainsbrook and (d) Oakhill secure training centres in each financial year that each centre has been operating; and what the reasons were for each such penalty.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The financial penalties imposed on secure training centre contractors are set out in the following tables:
	
		Financial penalties(74) imposed on secure training centre contractorsRainsbrook secure training centre £
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 155,152.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2000–01 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2001–02 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2002–03 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2003–04 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2004–05 0.00 333.13 0.00 
		
	
	
		Hassockfield secure training centre £
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 35,759.20 10,014.87 738.03 
			 2000–01 0.00 14,788.62 6,933.38 
			 2001–02 0.00 6,337.98 0.00 
			 2002–03 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2003–04 0.00 0.00 606.06 
			 2004–05 0.00 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Medway secure training centre £
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 1998–99 0.00 605,990 43,290 
			 1999–2000 0.00 87,759 17,812 
			 2000–01 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2001–02 0.00 114,238 0.00 
			 2002–03 0.00 36,359 5,416 
			 2003–04 0.00 0.00 54,000.32 
			 2004–05 0.00 0.00 37,085 
		
	
	
		Oakhill secure training centre £
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 1998–99 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1999–2000 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2000–01 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2001–02 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2002–03 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2003–04 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2004–05 311,994.80 572,119.84 0 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(74) All figures are exclusive of VAT
	(75) Performance points are awarded for failure to deliver specific services.

Aston Down

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his decision to order an environmental impact assessment on Aston Down; and what representations he has received on the matter.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The applicants requested the Secretary of State's screening direction on the matter of whether or not the application made to Stroud district council is an 'EIA application' within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.
	The Secretary of State issued a screening direction on 11 May 2005. In the opinion of the Secretary of State, taking into account the selection criteria in schedule 3 to the 1999 regulations, the proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature and location. The development proposed, namely, change of use of buildings to a mix of classes B1, B2, B8, and sui generis uses falls within the description at paragraph (10)(a) of schedule 2 to the 1999 regulations. The reason for this conclusion is the proposal is for an industrial estate development on a site in excess of 0.5 hectares. Since the proposal exceeds the threshold in column 2 of the table in schedule 2 to the 1999 regulations and is located in a sensitive area, the Secretary of State considers the application to be a 'Schedule 2 application' within the meaning of the 1999 regulations.
	However, the Secretary of State's opinion on the likelihood of the development having significant environmental effects is reached only for the purposes of the screening direction. Since a further planning application is expected in respect of this site, it is possible that the site will come before the First Secretary of State in the future either as the subject of a call-in or on appeal, therefore any comments regarding the merits of any proposal for the site could prejudice the First Secretary of State's position.
	Representations were received from English Nature, the Aston Down Action Group and from members of the public.

Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the members of the (a) Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder Board and (b) North East Regional Housing Board are; if he will place in the Library a copy of the declaration of interest by each member; and whether each organisation is required to have board meetings open to the public.

Yvette Cooper: Membership of the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder Board is:
	Leo Finn (Chair)
	Cllr Greg Stone, Cabinet Member, Newcastle City Council
	Steve Dunlop, Director, Newcastle City Council
	Cllr David Napier, Cabinet Member, Gateshead Council
	Sheila Johnston, Director, Gateshead Council
	Douglas Taylor, Newcastle and Whitley Housing Trust, LSP Newcastle
	Pauline Nelson, Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council, LSP Gateshead
	Pat Ritchie, One NorthEast
	Malcolm Levi, Home Group
	Mike Smith, Northern Rock
	Donald Urquhart, English Partnerships
	Eric Morgan, Sanderson Weatherall
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Observer)
	Government Office for the North East (Observer)
	Housing Corporation (Observer)
	Board members are asked to declare interests at the beginning of each meeting and withdraw from discussion where appropriate. Records of declarations of interest are not held centrally.
	Board meetings are not open to the public although it is proposed that the board should in future following board meetings provide information on its website.
	Membership of the North East Regional Housing Board is:
	Jonathan Blackie, Chair, Regional Director Government Office for the North East
	Neil Bradbury, English Partnerships
	Cllr Bob Brady, Association of North East Councils
	John Carleton, Housing Corporation
	Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, One NorthEast
	Leo Finn, Chair of Bridging Newcastle Gateshead
	Jolyon Harrison, House Builders Federation
	Arthur Cross, The North East Council of Tenants and Residents (NECTAR)
	Cllr Alan Napier, North East Assembly
	The terms of reference for board members relating to declaration of interest are:
	"It is the responsibility of all Board, Executive and related Task Group members to declare any personal interest in matters being considered, eg, issues which may result in financial gain to them.
	Upon declaration of an interest the member will be expected to withdraw from that part of the meeting unless decided otherwise by the majority of members in attendance."
	There have been no declarations of interest.
	Meetings of the board are not open to the public but the minutes of meetings are publicly available on the North East Housing board website at www.nehb.org.uk

Canal Boats

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how moving canal boats which are a primary residence will be assessed for council tax purposes under the council tax revaluation.

Phil Woolas: Boats are not in themselves subject to council tax. A mooring occupied by a boat which is somebody's sole or main residence is deemed to be a "dwelling" for council tax purposes and will therefore attract a council tax liability in the same way as other domestic types of property. A dwelling consisting of a mooring which is not occupied by a boat is exempt from council tax.

Council Tax

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the council tax for a band E house in (a) each London borough and (b) each local authority in Essex is; and what the comparable figures for each of the last three years for which figures are available were.

Phil Woolas: Details of the council tax for a band E property in (a) each London borough and (b) each local authority in Essex for the last four years are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found under the heading "Information For Taxpayers—Council Tax" at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm

Home Assessment Ratings

Brian Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes in the (a) public sector and (b) private sector have standard assessment procedure ratings that fall into the (i) 0–20, (ii) 20–40, (iii) 40–60 and (iv) above 60 bands.

Yvette Cooper: The number of homes with specified standard assessment procedure (SAP) ratings in the public and private housing sectors is provided in the following table, using information from 2001 (the most recent figures currently available):
	
		Table: Public and private housing sector SAP ratings (banded), 2001 Thousands of dwellings
		
			  2001 
			 SAP rating: Public Private 
		
		
			 less than 20 128 887 
			 20–39 340 3,078 
			 40–59 1,325 9,618 
			 60 or more 1,020 4,811 
			 all 2,812 18,395 
		
	
	Note:
	Higher SAP ratings indicate more energy efficient homes. RSL-owned dwellings have been classified as private for the purpose of this table.
	Source:
	English House Condition Survey

Homelessness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were (a) accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, (b) found to be unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category, (c) in temporary accommodation arranged by the local authority under homelessness legislation, (d) designated as homeless at home, (e) recorded as sleeping rough and (f) people on the housing register.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly and is in respect of households rather than persons. Information on the numbers on local authorities' housing registers is collected annually and is also in respect of households.
	The table presents information reported by each London borough on the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and those found to be unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category, for each year since 2001–02, along with the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation, plus those additionally designated "homeless at home", as at 31 March of each year. Also shown is the number of households on each authority's housing register as at 1 April of each year, and the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who were literally roofless on a single night during the year.
	The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Reported household data 2001–02 (April 2001 to March 2002)
		
			   Decisions(83) during year Position on 31 March 2002 
			  Housing register (at 1 April) Accepted(84) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(85) accommodation Homeless at home(86) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 211,469 29,320 12,260 46,390 5,490 357 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,157 346 385 544 0 0 
			 Barnet 6,732 1,112 517 1,710 359 0 
			 Bexley 3,596 454 678 223 39 0 
			 Brent 13,511 1,236 299 3,540 144 7 
			 Bromley 3,787 785 443 369 278 0 
			 Camden 8,614 1,120 305 1,739 198 38 
			 City of London 703 12 1 38 0 30 
			 Croydon 6,214 1,198 1,287 3,011 0 7 
			 Ealing 8,132 860 812 2,076 393 7 
			 Enfield 8,845 1,143 180 2,392 0 0 
			 Greenwich 5,869 1,217 424 279 746 0 
			 Hackney 8,307 n/a n/a n/a n/a 8,930 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,865 805 140 1,465 147 3 
			 Haringey 10,344 1,138 0 3,520 1 2 
			 Harrow 3,141 444 222 1,505 4 0 
			 Havering 1,985 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Hillingdon 5,810 1,119 425 1,895 124 0 
			 Hounslow 4,983 1,383 733 992 270 8 
			 Islington 6,427 1,428 1,181 n/a n/a 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6,150 593 121 959 4 15 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,723 n/a n/a 664 31 3 
			 Lambeth 13,115 1,470 305 1,643 410 23 
			 Lewisham 10,182 1,102 601 n/a n/a 3 
			 Merton 4,214 173 109 192 6 1 
			 Newham 11,426 1,449 315 2,296 648 8 
			 Redbridge 5,426 437 36 1,764 0 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,383 399 154 474 26 5 
			 Southwark 7,191 1,317 209 704 547 13 
			 Sutton 2,432 462 279 409 93 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,566 1,401 44 1,978 18 9 
			 Waltham Forest 8,664 1,121 381 785 107 1 
			 Wandsworth 3,120 927 450 1,217 0 0 
			 Westminster 8,855 1,176 667 2,460 292 169 
		
	
	
		Reported household data 2002–03 (April 2002 to March 2003)
		
			   Decisions(83) during year Position on 31 March 2003 
			  Housing register Accepted(84) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(85) accommodation Homeless at home(86) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 226,789 29,790 12,280 52,690 6,330 321 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,668 595 448 707 6 0 
			 Barnet 7,030 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Bexley 3,487 468 524 250 50 0 
			 Brent 14,746 1,039 369 3,473 143 4 
			 Bromley 3,592 865 405 589 325 0 
			 Camden 8,147 1,290 318 1,893 315 28 
			 City of London 623 31 3 32 0 41 
			 Croydon 6,890 1,291 1,345 3,450 0 6 
			 Ealing 8,289 1,001 763 2,008 360 4 
			 Enfield 7,264 1,186 279 2,678 0 0 
			 Greenwich 6,876 1,003 345 282 765 3 
			 Hackney 1,136 117 2,214 137 11  
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,044 811 159 1,659 139 4 
			 Haringey 12,585 n/a n/a n/a n/a 8 
			 Harrow 3,992 400 85 1,601 21 0 
			 Havering 1,888 180 110 379 1 0 
			 Hillingdon 6,041 933 437 1,813 168 0 
			 Hounslow 6,369 852 708 1,144 334 3 
			 Islington 8,161 1,314 1,065 1,421 n/a 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,294 410 104 940 0 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,971 448 351 718 16 0 
			 Lambeth 14,228 1,651 404 2,257 512 12 
			 Lewisham 15,368 1,170 638 1,243 613 1 
			 Merton 4,361 156 79 179 9 0 
			 Newham 13,942 1,433 200 4,208 797 0 
			 Redbridge 5,671 n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,763 325 107 538 64 6 
			 Southwark 6,164 1,827 324 732 513 2 
			 Sutton 1,653 429 346 427 51 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,837 1,617 51 2,446 10 2 
			 Waltham Forest 10,283 1,140 644 1,151 118 4 
			 Wandsworth 3,923 1,072 407 1,489 49 0 
			 Westminster 3,709 1,132 728 2,619 399 169 
		
	
	(83) Data shown where four quarterly returns were received, n/a denotes an authority failed to provide a return for one or more quarters.
	(84) All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
	(85) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	(86) Households designated as "homeless at home" that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	Source:
	ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly) and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)
	
		Reported household data 2003–04 (April 2003 to March 2004)
		
			   Decisions(87) during year Position on 31 March 2004 
			  Housing register (as at 1 April) Accepted(88) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(89) accommodation Homeless at home(90) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 242,389 30,080 14,690 58,820 5,630 267 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,018 667 371 789 0 0 
			 Barnet 8,738 1,084 1,663 1,960 241 0 
			 Bexley 4,265 365 468 321 35 0 
			 Brent 13,425 897 363 4,208 96 0 
			 Bromley 3,556 873 528 720 277 0 
			 Camden 8,961 1,648 409 2,166 450 13 
			 City of London 679 22 13 25 1 36 
			 Croydon 6,425 1,240 1,596 3,545 6 0 
			 Ealing 10,763 1,094 859 2,009 287 0 
			 Enfield 9,496 1,085 249 2,963 n/a 0 
			 Greenwich 7,753 1,246 447 378 575 0 
			 Hackney 10,529 n/a n/a 2,270 251 7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,665 644 196 1,781 92 2 
			 Haringey 14,264 n/a n/a 4,774 0 6 
			 Harrow 3,281 264 101 1,458 7 0 
			 Havering 1,962 452 165 819 42 0 
			 Hillingdon 5,507 735 234 1,873 98 0 
			 Hounslow 5,952 691 121 1,130 362 0 
			 Islington 8,566 n/a n/a 1,438 n/a 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7,872 476 153 965 0 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,137 418 398 840 24 0 
			 Lambeth 11,140 1,545 774 1,845 778 11 
			 Lewisham 15,341 1,502 602 1,640 756 0 
			 Merton 4,312 204 109 165 3 0 
			 Newham 16,228 1,519 158 5,155 151 6 
			 Redbridge 4,952 806 32 2432 n/a 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,861 316 154 534 27 6 
			 Southwark 6,757 1,540 370 926 471 17 
			 Sutton 1,662 312 374 538 27 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 10,979 1,657 267 2,900 23 11 
			 Waltham Forest 9,680 1,025 1,155 1,668 73 1 
			 Wandsworth 5,072 1,036 600 1,644 31 0 
			 Westminster 6,591 1,117 713 2,944 n/a 133 
		
	
	
		Reported household data 2004–05 (April 2004 to March 2005)
		
			   Decisions(87) during year Position on 31 March 2005 
			  Housing register (as at 1 April) Accepted(88) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(89) accommodation Homeless at home(90) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 279,729 26,730 12,650 61,990 4,670 265 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,149 775 223 474 1 0 
			 Barnet 10,732 758 1,526 2,334 270 0 
			 Bexley 4,404 430 536 377 39 0 
			 Brent 15,504 795 469 4,453 95 6 
			 Bromley 3,866 n/a n/a 451 n/a 0 
			 Camden 15,757 1,148 213 2,172 257 5 
			 City of London 914 31 5 34 2 22 
			 Croydon 8,067 1,126 1,412 3,346 3 0 
			 Ealing 12,808 789 742 2,221 405 4 
			 Enfield 12,584 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Greenwich 6,710 1,157 327 543 722 0 
			 Hackney 11,016 1,153 191 2,479 n/a 8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7,874 653 208 1,825 82 3 
			 Haringey 16,920 1,175 0 5,309 7 4 
			 Harrow 4,333 96 58 1,275 1 0 
			 Havering 2,384 200 111 814 19 0 
			 Hillingdon 6,910 461 34 1,878 17 0 
			 Hounslow 7,088 891 97 1,234 189 0 
			 Islington 6,871 1,130 750 1,550 n/a 1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,326 589 189 1,196 0 10 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,465 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Lambeth 12,847 1,644 444 2,378 413 12 
			 Lewisham 17,497 1,245 443 1,847 919 0 
			 Merton 4,834 261 252 156 2 0 
			 Newham 19,503 n/a n/a 5,815 15 3 
			 Redbridge 4,766 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,868 279 60 458 n/a 0 
			 Southwark 6,657 1,668 507 969 370 6 
			 Sutton 2,145 272 302 636 31 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 14,575 1,151 160 2948 5 5 
			 Waltham Forest 9,016 800 942 1,807 74 1 
			 Wandsworth 6,672 840 424 1,593 46 0 
			 Westminster 5,667 1,112 1,015 3,148 139 175 
		
	
	(87) All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
	(88) Data shown where four quarterly returns were received n/a denotes an authority failed to provide a return for one or more quarters.
	(89) Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	(90) Households designated as "homeless at home" that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	Source:
	ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly) and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

Housing

Lorely Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) legislation and (b) other safeguards are in place (i) to protect public open space and parkland from housing development in the urban environment and (ii) to stop councils selling off public open space and parkland for housing development to fund other council services.

Yvette Cooper: National planning guidance set out in PPG17 (Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation) makes clear that open spaces that are needed by their communities should be protected and not developed for other uses. PPG17 indicates that planning authorities should undertake assessments of their communities' open space needs and only consider granting permission for development where open spaces are surplus to all requirements. PPG3 (Housing) complements this protection through the priority it gives to building new houses on previously developed land.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must be notified of those major proposals for housing or that affect open spaces which are subject to relevant directions so that he can consider whether to call them in for his own determination. A local authority proposing to dispose of open space under the Local Government Act 1972 must advertise its intention in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks and consider any objections.
	Disposal of land by local authorities is governed by section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. Local authorities may dispose of land in any manner they wish: my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State's only involvement is to grant or withhold consent where authorities wish to dispose of land at less than the best consideration reasonably obtainable and the proposed disposal falls outside the scope of the General Consent set out in ODPM Circular 06/2003.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has received from the Regional Housing Board on the amount of affordable housing needed in West Sussex (a) in 2005 and (b) over the next 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: The South East Regional Housing Board has not given any advice to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the amount of affordable housing needed in West Sussex. The Board's role is to set out overall priorities for the region rather than to determine allocations between individual local authorities.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many first-time buyers in West Sussex he expects to benefit from the First Time Buyers Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	It is too early to say how many first time buyers in West Sussex will be helped through the First Time Buyers Initiative. Our target for the initiative is to provide 15,000 affordable homes across England over the next five years to 2010. This target can be found in our Five Year Strategy, "Sustainable Communities: Homes for All", published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in January 2005 (a copy of which is available in the Library of the House). English Partnerships is now developing a delivery plan for the First Time Buyers Initiative.
	Our consultation document "HomeBuy; Expanding the opportunity to own" launched in April 2005 set out various proposals for simplifying, making fairer and expanding our low cost home ownership programme. The consultation process closed on 24 June, and the results will be fed into English Partnerships' delivery plan. English Partnerships will be working closely with stakeholders such as the Regional Housing Boards, local planning authorities and others to assess local demands and accommodate them where possible taking account of regional strategies and development plans. Regional Housing Boards will advise on groups to be given priority, reflecting the needs of the region.

Housing

Brian Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many house (a) demolitions and (b) completions there were in (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector in the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of demolitions and new build completions in each year since 1995–96 for England are tabled as follows.
	
		Thousands of dwellings
		
			   (b) New build completions 
			  (a) Total demolitions(91) Private sector Social (for rent) sector(92)(93) 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a 123.6 31.0 
			 1996–97 n/a 121.2 25.1 
			 1997–98 14.1 127.8 21.7 
			 1998–99 14.5 119.5 19.1 
			 1999–2000 17.2 124.2 17.2 
			 2000–01 20.0 116.4 16.7 
			 2001–02 26.3 115.5 14.2 
			 2002–03 23.4 124.3 13.4 
			 2003–04 20.1 129.5 13.8 
			 2004–05 n/a 137.8 16.8 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(91) Figures are not available separately for private and social for rent sectors
	(92) Social (for rent) sector covers activity by councils and registered social landlords
	(93) The figures may understate new build by Registered Social Landlords as such dwellings may be classified as 'private' by building inspectors.
	Source:
	Demolitions: Local Authority Housing Flow (HFR/P3J) returns to ODPM, also HIP Business Plan Completions: Local Authority P2 (also NHBC) returns to ODPM

Local Authority Targets

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the targets that his Department sets for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Local authorities contribute to the delivery of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister's Public Service Agreement targets. These are set out in the ODPM Annual report, a copy of which has been made available in the Library of the House. They also contribute to the delivery of targets set out in the ODPM five-year plans, "Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity and Sustainable Communities: Homes for all". These do not include targets set by other Departments for local authorities.

Motorway Advertisements

Mark Tami: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning constraints apply to the (a) size and (b) location of advertisements adjacent to motorways.

Yvette Cooper: The limits to the size and location of advertisements which may be displayed with the deemed consent of the local planning authority are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, otherwise local planning authorities must consider amenity and public safety on a site-specific basis.

Private Rented Accommodation

Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the (a) regional and (b) local variation in availability of private sector rented accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates of the number of privately rented households in England during 2003–04, broken down by Government Office Region, are set out in the following table. The figures are derived from the "Survey of English Housing", which is an annual survey of around 20,000 households. While the survey is large enough to provide reasonable estimates of the number of private renters by region, it cannot be used to provide estimates at local authority level.
	
		Number of privately renting households by region, 2003–04
		
			 Government office region Privately renting households All households Private renters as a percentage of all households 
		
		
			 North East 84,000 1,100,000 8 
			 North West 235,000 2,822,000 8 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 176,000 2,137,000 8 
			 East Midlands 156,000 1,768,000 9 
			 West Midlands 153,000 2,170,000 7 
			 Eastern 241,000 2,250,000 11 
			 London 507,000 3,013,000 17 
			 South East 337,000 3,262,000 10 
			 South West 260,000 2,105,000 12 
			 Total 2,149,000 20,627,000 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Survey of English Housing, 2003–04
	A comprehensive breakdown of the number of privately rented households at the time of the 2001 census is available in a table entitled: "KS18 Tenure: census 2001, Key Statistics of local authorities"
	This can be accessed via the National Statistics website using the following link: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=6579&More=Y
	The number of households who were privately renting at the time of the last census can be determined by adding together the figures in columns H and I of this table.

Departmental Staff

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what salary is paid to the (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) each of the Deputy Secretaries within the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development; and what level of expenses each received in 2004–05.

Angela Smith: The salary, including performance pay, of the Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Secretaries is published annually in the resource accounts of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The accounts for the 2004–05 financial year have not yet been published. They will be submitted for audit by 29 July 2005 and laid before Parliament by 31 October 2005.
	As the salary information requested will be the subject of future publication it falls within the scope of Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am therefore unable at this time to provide you with salary details for 2004–05.
	The only expenses paid to the Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Secretaries were for travel and subsistence. The following amounts were paid to the relevant officers during 2004–05.
	
		
			 £ 
			   Name   Title Travel and subsistence expenses 2004–05 
		
		
			 Mr. P. Toal Permanent Secretary 2,219.54 
			 Mr. G. Lavery Deputy Secretary 323.60 
			 Mr. R. Houston Deputy Secretary 2,647.29 
			 Mr. T. McCusker Deputy Secretary 4,934.32 
			 Mr. R. McClenaghan Deputy Secretary 3,058.21 
			 Dr. G. McIlroy Deputy Secretary 0

Fuel Poverty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. member for Belfast North on 13 June 2005 in Official Report, column 4150W.

Transfers Tourist Board

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his response of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 92W, on the Northern Ireland Transfers Tourist Board, if he will break down the totals by district council area.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the total Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) grant assistance paid to tourism related businesses in each Northern Ireland council area since 1999 (financial years).
	It should also be noted that financial assistance was provided to accommodation projects by the NITB up until March 2002 however since April 2002 this assistance has been administered through Invest NI.
	
		
			£ 
			 Council 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Across all council areas and x-border 1,213,839.87 1,166,946.38 1,366,717.37 
			 Antrim Borough Council 557,314.39 120,498.70 93,841.90 
			 Ards Borough Council 314,121.58 293,261.78 2,246.19 
			 City and District Council 96,532.46 710,783.87 2,058,104.99 
			 Ballymena Borough Council 109,462.70 24,844.95 9,940.30 
			 Ballymoney Borough Council 11,418.70 117,773.41 10,854.24 
			 Banbridge District Council 2,100.00 500.00 43,381.62 
			 Belfast City Council 1,004,640.33 1,504,387.32 2,123,103.00 
			 Carrickfergus Borough Council 8,871.41 97,548.91 147,818.58 
			 Castlereagh Borough Council 31,500.00 4,200.00 0.00 
			 Coleraine Borough Council 97,795.94 602,739.79 168,600.48 
			 Cookstown District Council 26,138.44 30,113.00 500.00 
			 Craigavon Borough Council 1,209.82 15,724.34 0.00 
			 Derry City Council 609,542.64 531,512.51 1,753,139.92 
			 Down District Council 1,508,804.36 2,088,662.11 561,591.78 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council 161,791.79 35,289.91 24,824.64 
			 Fermanagh District Council 452,050.36 354,196.74 1,408,109.86 
			 Larne Borough Council 20,493.30 402,233.37 508,782.01 
			 Limavady Borough Council 71,454.63 120,454.38 24,221.50 
			 Lisburn Borough Council 35,685.51 58,145.92 39,709.83 
			 Magherafelt District Council 3,117.38 56,945.49 181,109.83 
			 Moyle District Council 391,445.84 950,834.44 574,033.40 
			 Newry and Mourne District Council 242,217.76 158,801.38 130,960.31 
			 Newtownabbey Borough Council 900.00 1,000.00 600.00 
			 North Down Borough Council 53,504.52 21,800.00 700.00 
			 Omagh District Council 261,931.26 173,876.03 156,208.68 
			 Strabane District Council 15,045.86 15,984.30 1,140.00 
			 Total 7,302,930.85 9,659,059.03 11,390,240.43 
		
	
	
		
			 Council 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total 
		
		
			 Across all council areas and x-border 1,214,735.45 1,993,209.78 1,666,684.31 8,622,133.16 
			 Antrim Borough Council 9,700.00 0.00 0.00 781,354.99 
			 Ards Borough Council 56,736.58 57,375.74 0.00 723,741.87 
			 City and District Council 26,630.56 23,991.20 0.00 2,916,043.08 
			 Ballymena Borough Council 1,500.00 1,000.00 0.00 146,747.95 
			 Ballymoney Borough Council 0.00 13,047.18 0.00 153,093.53 
			 Banbridge District Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 45,981.62 
			 Belfast City Council 58,800.63 21,000.00 38,314.95 4,750,246.23 
			 Carrickfergus Borough Council 1,500.00 500.00 0.00 256,238.90 
			 Castlereagh Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 35,700.00 
			 Coleraine Borough Council 43,768.98 35,410.62 0.00 948,315.81 
			 Cookstown District Council 100,348.63 0.00 0.00 157,100.07 
			 Craigavon Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 16,934.16 
			 Derry City Council 57,680.46 11,654.98 7,123.97 2,970,654.48 
			 Down District Council 30,236.44 15,172.10 0.00 4,204,466.79 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council 0.00 20,790.00 2,310.00 245,006.34 
			 Fermanagh District Council 11,476.91 41,857.92 15,392.47 2,283,084.26 
			 Larne Borough Council 1,500.00 0.00 0.00 933,008.68 
			 Limavady Borough Council 2,300.00 4,602.91 0.00 223,033.42 
			 Lisburn Borough Council 3,500.00 2,021.79 0.00 139,063.05 
			 Magherafelt District Council 17,416.40 0.00 0.00 258,589.10 
			 Moyle District Council 24,185.92 12,072.63 0.00 1,952,572.23 
			 Newry and Mourne District Council 37,397.60 3,379.51 35,775.13 608,531.69 
			 Newtownabbey Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,500.00 
			 North Down Borough Council 700.00 0.00 0.00 76,704.52 
			 Omagh District Council 2,368.52 0.00 7,093.37 601,477.86 
			 Strabane District Council 25,432.99 0.00 0.00 57,603.15 
			 Total 1,727,916.07 2,257,086.36 1,772,694.20 34,109,926.94

Conditional Fee Arrangements

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reform the rules governing the procedure for conditional fee arrangements.

Bridget Prentice: We published a consultation paper "Making Simple CFAs a Reality" in June 2004. We have considered the responses made and we plan to publish a report of the conclusions of the consultation by autumn 2005.

Contingency Fees

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) carried out into the (i) effectiveness and (i) impact of contingency fees.

Bridget Prentice: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, "Better Routes to Redress" recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact and effectiveness of contingency fees. The Government rejected this recommendation. They believe that Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) should remain the principal form of private funding in the civil justice system and that the primary focus should remain on making CFAs work better rather than exploring the potential impact of allowing contingency fees beyond their existing use.

Election Turnout

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average turnout in (a) local, (b) general, (c) Welsh Assembly, (d) Northern Ireland Assembly, (e) Scottish Parliament, (f) London Assembly and (g) European Parliament elections was in each relevant year since 1975.

Harriet Harman: The average turnout in general, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament, London Assembly and European Parliament elections in each year since 1975 is set out as follows:
	
		General election turnout from 1945–2001
		
			  England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1945 73.4 75.7 69.0 67.4 72.8 
			 1950 84.4 84.8 80.9 77.4 83.9 
			 1951 82.7 84.4 81.2 79.9 82.6 
			 1955 76.9 79.6 75.1 74.1 76.8 
			 1959 78.9 82.6 78.1 65.9 78.7 
			 1964 77.0 80.1 77.6 71.7 77.1 
			 1966 75.9 79.0 76.0 66.1 75.8 
			 1970 71.4 77.4 74.1 76.6 72.0 
			 1974(94) 79.0 80.0 79.0 69.9 78.8 
			 1974(95) 72.6 76.6 74.8 67.7 72.8 
			 1979 75.9 79.4 76.8 67.7 76.0 
			 1983 72.5 76.1 72.7 72.9 72.7 
			 1987 75.4 78.9 75.1 67.0 75.3 
			 1992 78.0 79.7 75.5 69.8 77.7 
			 1997 71.4 73.5 71.3 67.1 71.4 
			 2001 59.2 61.6 58.2 68.0 59.4 
			 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a 61.3 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(94) February
	(95) October
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 99/64
	
		National Assembly for Wales turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 46.2 
			 2003 38.2 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Northern Ireland Assembly
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998 68.7 
			 2003 63.1 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Scottish Parliament turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 58 
			 2003 49 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Greater London Assembly elections turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 31 
			 2004 36.97 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		European Parliamentary election turnout from (1979–99)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1979 32 
			 1984 33 
			 1989 36 
			 1994 36 
			 1999 24 
			 2004 38.8 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 99/64
	Comprehensive figures for local elections are not available centrally.

National Archives

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward legislation to make it an offence to place forged documents in the National Archives.

Bridget Prentice: On 5 July the National Archives placed the following statement on its website:
	"Reports in the press have questioned the authenticity of five documents within files FO 800/9868 and HS 8/944. The National Archives has taken these allegations extremely seriously. We commissioned an official forensic examination which has now concluded that these five documents are, indeed, forgeries. In the light of this, we are reviewing our own procedures and taking legal advice, with a view to taking further action."
	It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Postal Voting

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Department's policy is on all postal vote elections; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 535W.

Voter Registration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has (a) conducted and (b) evaluated into the effect of individual registration on the electoral roll.

Harriet Harman: The Electoral Commission has published a number of reports covering this issue. These include "The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002: An assessment of its first year in Operation" (December 2003) and "Statistical analysis of the Northern Ireland electoral register" (December 2003). Since the publication of these reports, the Commission has also periodically published updated statistical analysis. The most recent analysis was published in May 2005 and charts the impact of the Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Act 2005. The issue is also covered in the Commission's 2003 report "The Electoral Registration Process". All of these publications are available on the Electoral Commission's website.
	This issue was also discussed in the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee report Electoral Registration in Northern Ireland (December 2004), and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee report "Electoral Registration" (March 2005).

Academic Research (Commercial Exploitation)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many spin-offs from English universities there were in each year between 1994 and 2004; and what proportion of the total income of English universities she estimates was derived from the commercial exploitation of academic research in each of these years.

Bill Rammell: Information on spin-offs and income generated from the commercial exploitation of academic research is available from the Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction survey (HE-BCI) carried out by the Higher Education funding Council for England (HEFCE). Such information was not available before 2001. The first set of data to be published was for the academic year 2001/02. Data is currently available are as set out in the following table:
	
		Income (£000)
		
			  2001/02 AY 2002/03 AY 
		
		
			 Contract research 267,598 237,904 
			 Consultancy 93,695 125,823 
			 Licensing income 22,136 15,329 
			 Sale of spin-off equity 10,425 13,490 
			 Number of spin-offs 159 158 
		
	
	Source:
	HE-BCI Survey—published figures
	There is no formal requirement on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to provide information for this survey. The data in the previous table are therefore not necessarily a complete reflection of the number of spin-offs and income generated. Information on total income is available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Financial Statistical Return as set out in the following table:
	
		HEFCE funded HEIs
		
			  Total income (£000) 
		
		
			 2001/02 AY 11,833,707 
			 2002/03 AY 12,722,703 
		
	
	Source:
	HESA Financial Statistical Return

Academies

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what governance arrangements will be used for new 16 to 19 academies;
	(2)  whether the new 16 to 19 Academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge Campus will be (a) a school and (b) a further education college; and when she expects it to open for enrolments;
	(3)  whether the London West Learning and Skills Council Strategic Area Review took account of the plans to open a 16 to 19 academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge campus; and whether the review recommended the opening of such an Academy.

Jacqui Smith: 16–19 academies will be established under the procedures for setting up new further education colleges as specified in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. These academies will be subject to the same governance arrangements as for existing further education colleges, but tailored to reflect the ethos of an academy and the presence of a sponsor. Tailoring governance arrangements in this way is already established practice for a number of colleges in the FE sector, for example sixth form colleges. The governance arrangements for the academies will also need to take account of existing statutory requirements and will need to satisfy my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State before approval is given to the proposal.
	If approved by the Secretary of State, the new Brunei HSBC Education Trust Academy will be legally established as a further education college but will reflect the ethos of an academy. It would open in September 2008. The academy would provide education for 800 16–19 year-olds drawing from the Learning and Skills Council London West area and beyond. It would be particularly aimed at those who might otherwise not have stayed on for post 16 education, including students from disadvantaged areas or who have achieved less than they might. (10490)
	The London West Learning and Skills Council Strategic Review did not coincide with the proposal to establish the Brunei HSBC Education Trust 16–19 Academy. However, initial consultation by the sponsors involved Hillingdon LEA, West London LSC and the national LSC before the feasibility phase for the project began in December 2004.
	The West London LSC are active members of the Brunei academy project board and chair the academy forum which is seeking the views of local secondary schools and FE Colleges on the proposal, on an on-going basis as the proposal is developed. The academy sponsors are very keen to work closely with local schools and to provide a wider service to the community. Post 16 participation in Hillingdon is one of the lowest in West London and the academy will help to address this weakness. Further research into the need for places in the London West area, and the potential impact such an academy may have on local providers, has been commissioned by the local LSC and this should be available in the autumn for presentation to both the LSC and Ministers before a decision on the academy is made.

Access to Learning Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources she has set aside for the Access to Learning Fund for each year between 2005 and 2008.

Phil Hope: The funds set aside for the Access to Learning Fund for each year between 2005 and 2008 are set out in £ millon's in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2005/06 (96)(97)66.8 
			 2006/07 (96)65.8 
			 2007/08 (96)57.9 
		
	
	(96) The above figures include DfES'/HEFCE's contribution to administration. HEFCE's contribution for 2006/07 and 2007/08 is estimated and is based upon the council's actual contribution of £1.5 million for 2005/06, uprated by inflation (2.5 per cent.) for each year. Higher education institutions may use up to 3 per cent. of their total allocation for administrative purposes.
	(97) The figure for 2005/06 includes £1.85 millon transferred from the Department of Health (contribution for NHS means tested bursary recipients).

Adult Education

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used for appraising adult education colleges.

Phil Hope: All providers that are funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), including adult education colleges, are responsible for the effective management of their own processes for strategic planning, self-assessment and quality improvement. Local LSCs undertake an annual planning review with those providers that have agreed a three-year development plan with the LSC. These review discussions focus on the provider's contribution to the local LSC's plan and agreed priorities, progress towards achieving agreed strategies and performance measures, and the management of associated risks.
	Adult education colleges are inspected on a four-year cycle using the Common Inspection Framework for all post-16 providers. This framework, published by Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate, is based on standard principles for inspection used across Government.

Apprenticeships

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated by the Learning and Skills Council to apprenticeships for (a) 16 to 18 and (b) over 19-year-olds in 2005–06.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Jimmy Hood, dated 8 July 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which has been referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Phil Hope, regarding how much funding has been allocated by the Learning and Skills Council to apprenticeships for (a) 16 to 18-year-olds and (b) over 19-year-olds for 2005–06".
	For 16 to 18-year-olds, we are allocating £597,184,711. For those aged 19 and over, £265,763,060. We are also allocating £221,915,602 for the pre-apprenticeship Entry 2 Employment programme.
	The figures are slightly different for the academic year, which forms the basis of our contracts with providers. For 16 to 18-year-olds, the amount is £594,410,328, for those aged 19 and over, £266,738,550 and for Entry 2 Employment, £226,906,476.
	I trust this is helpful.

Apprenticeships

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers are expected to take up apprenticeships in 2005–06 in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 8 July 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (which has been referred to the Learning and Skills Council LSC for a response) regarding how many school leavers are expected to take up apprenticeships in 2005–06 in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.
	LSC Lancashire does not generate this information, however Connexions does gather data on the intended destinations of all young people leaving school each summer. The data for summer 2005 would give the best indication of the numbers of school leavers expected to take up apprenticeships in 2005–06. LSC Lancashire has contacted Connexions Lancashire and they have provided the following data. The number of young people in Lancashire intending to take up an apprenticeship is 4,743 and of these, 284 will live in Chorley.
	I trust this is helpful.

Apprenticeships

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of modern apprenticeships and their successor schemes have been in each year since their introduction.

Phil Hope: Apprenticeships in England are funded through the work based learning for young people budget of the Learning and Skills Council. This budget covers Apprenticeships, Advanced Apprenticeships, NVQ Learning and Entry to Employment. The following table shows estimated spending by the LSC since it was established in 2001.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Academic year  Total WBL budget Estimated apprenticeship spend 
		
		
			 2001/02 673 467 
			 2002/03 828 539 
			 2003/04 791 560 
			 2004/05 1,037 810 
		
	
	Before the LSC was established apprenticeships were funded by the Training and Enterprise Councils (TEC). Disaggregated data showing the amount of funding spent on apprenticeships from their work based learning for young people budget in this period is not available.

Chemistry

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students sat A-level chemistry in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information available on the number of students taking A-level chemistry can be found as follows.
	
		
			  2004 1997 
		
		
			 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates 240,810 231,334 
			 16 to 18-year-old candidates taking  chemistry 32,130 36,429 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The information for this answer is derived from data collected for the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) that are published annually. The most recent information the department holds on A-level results is from 2004.
	2. Ages are taken at the start of the academic year ie 31 August.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to reply to the letter to her dated 1 June 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to R.M. Cawley.

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Schools and 14–19 Learners, replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 1 June 2005 on 30 June 2005.

Dyslexia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department is carrying out into dyslexia; and how much was spent by her Department on such research during each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department is not currently carrying out research into dyslexia. We have however supported a number of pieces of relevant work in recent years.
	Together with W H Smith and other partners, we supported the Dyslexia Institute's (Dl) Spell It research project, which considered the impact of different interventions with seven-year-olds experiencing difficulty with reading. A readers' support pack was one of the outcomes of the Spell It project and we gave the Dl a grant to make copies available to parents through the Institute's network of regional centres. We also gave a grant to QinetiQ, formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, to work with Oxford University and others on some exploratory research into eye movement characteristics as possible indicators of dyslexia.
	To help improve awareness of different approaches, we supported a number of research reviews by Dr. Angela Fawcett of Sheffield University, which are available to interested parties on the Department's special educational needs website. We also gave a grant in support of the British Dyslexia Association's international dyslexia conference, where different techniques are presented and discussed.
	We also supplied funding to support an OECD collaborative research and dissemination initiative to assess the implications of the latest developments in research on brain functioning for the development of literacy and mathematical skills. The latest discoveries in brain science are expected to have profound implications for what we understand as appropriate methods of teaching and learning. For example, brain science is already shedding light on the causes and possible remedies for dyslexia.
	Expenditure on the above amounted to £1,478,344.

Education

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are attending schools in the London borough of Sutton in the 2004/05 academic year, broken down by (a) the local authority in which the child is resident and (b) whether the child is attending (i) primary, (ii) secondary and (iii) special school.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested broken down by local education authority has been provided in the following tables:
	
		Total number of pupils attending schools in Sutton, broken down by residing authority
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools in Sutton 31,297 100.0 
			
			 Home authority   
			 Sutton 24,883 79.5 
			 Croydon 2,383 7.6 
			 Merton 1,624 5.2 
			 Surrey 1,548 4.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 391 1.2 
			 Lambeth 160 0.5 
			 Wandsworth 120 0.4 
			 Bromley 36 0.1 
			 Lewisham 33 0.1 
			 Southwark 22 0.1 
			 Other LEAs 33 0.1 
			 Unknown/not given(99) 64 0.2 
		
	
	(99) Residence of pupil unknown/not given.
	Note:
	'—' denotes percentage of less than 0.05 per cent.
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Provisional data
	
		Total number of pupils attending schools in Sutton, broken down by phase of education
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools in Sutton 31,297 100.0 
			
			 School type   
			 Primary 15,051 48.1 
			 Secondary 15,974 51.0 
			 Special 272 0.9 
		
	
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Provisional data.

Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in integrating enterprise elements into GCSE courses on (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) English, (d) information technology and (e) design and technology.

Jacqui Smith: Since 2000, all GCSEs have been required to provide opportunities for generating evidence for assessing the six key skills, which are skills for enterprise. In addition, the 14–19 White Paper emphasised the need to develop English, maths and ICT curriculum and qualifications to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for employment. The QCA is developing the mathematics curriculum to include financial literacy in the context of the GCSE.
	Progress has also been made in providing guidance from DfES and QCA to teachers of GCSE subjects at key stage 4 on incorporating activities that develop young people's enterprise knowledge and skills.

Mathematics

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the English universities which have (a) closed and (b) announced the closure of their mathematics department in the last eight years; and how many places for mathematics have been lost.

Bill Rammell: Information on the closure, merger or opening of particular university courses and departments is not collected centrally by either my Department, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), or the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA). Higher Education Institutions are autonomous organisations responsible for their own academic direction and strategic use of funds, and any decisions on closures of departments are made by them.
	In their advice to the Secretary of State on strategic subjects published last week, HEFCE has estimated that despite a fall in activity of 9.3 per cent. (or 1,800 full-time equivalents—FTEs) in mathematics since 1999–2000, the total activity remained at nearly 17,500 FTEs in 2003–04, providing a substantial base on which to build. We will be considering HEFCE's advice carefully in the coming months before responding.

Prison Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of prisons in England and Wales that are providing adequate (i) literacy, (ii) numeracy and (iii) vocational training.

Phil Hope: Learning and skills in prisons in England and Wales are provided by providers acting under contract to the Prison Service and through some direct provision by Prison Service staff.
	The quality of learning and skills provision in prisons is assessed through a programme of inspections undertaken by the Adult Learning Inspectorate working alongside Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. The ALI Chief Inspectors' Annual Report 2004 records that the quality of Foundation Programmes (covering literacy, language and numeracy provision) was judged to be satisfactory or better in 25 out of 33 (76 per cent.) of prisons inspected in 2003–04.
	For all other areas of learning, which include vocational training, the provision in 2003–04 was judged to be satisfactory or better in 65 out of 94 (69 per cent.) instances.

School Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 471W, on bullying, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Make the Difference series of ministerial conference on bullying in schools.

Jacqui Smith: Between November 2003 and June 2004, a series of regional conferences was run as part of the "Make the Difference" campaign. These conferences, which welcomed an impressive 5,000 people, offered an opportunity for schools and other partners to share good practice on this issue and to learn at first hand of successful techniques used elsewhere.
	Many delegates reported that the conferences had been exactly what they need in order to return to their schools and start making changes.
	There was also an influx of signed Charters after the conferences at which it was launched.
	One specific result has been that a school that offered an acclaimed workshop at two conferences has now placed its work on DVD in response to requests from many other schools.
	Most importantly schools tell us that the conferences have led to significant changes in schools, acting as a catalyst for innovative ways of tackling the problem.

Student Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) average and (b) maximum amount of support available for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time students in academic years (A) was in 2003/04 and (B) is in 2004/05.

Bill Rammell: The maximum amount available for the standard student support package is set out as follows. Whereas we publish statistics on average fee and maintenance expenditure per student, we do not have data on average amounts available.
	
		
			£ 
			 Student loans Maximum available 75 per cent. non income assessed 25 per cent. income assessed 
		
		
			 Full time student support: 2003/04(100)
			 Students living away from their parents home and studying in: 
			 London 4,930 3,695 1,235 
			 Elsewhere 4,000 3,000 1,000 
			 
			 Students living at their parents home:
			 London or elsewhere 3,165 2,375 790 
			 
			 Part time student support: 2003/042
			 
			 Full time student support: 2004/053
			 Students living away from their parents home and studying in: 
			 London 5,050 3,790 1,260 
			 Elsewhere 4,095 3,070 1,025 
			 
			 Students living at their parents home:
			 London or elsewhere 3,240 2,430 810 
			 
			 Part time student support: 2004/054
		
	
	(100) Grant for fees up to the full £1,125 fee.
	(101) Loan £500.
	(102) Grant for fees up to the full £1,150 fee. HE grant up to £1,000 (the minimum grant is £50).
	(103) Fee grant up to £575. Course grant up to £250.
	In addition to the standard package of full-time support, in both academic years there was a range of extra help available for students with dependants (Adult Dependants Grant, Parents Learning Allowance and Childcare Grant); disabled students (non-means tested Disabled Students Allowances); care leavers (Care Leavers Grant); and certain students incurring additional travel costs (Travel Grant). Also available were discretionary funds such as the Access to Learning Fund and Opportunity Bursaries. Part-time students could also receive Disabled Students Allowances and help from the discretionary funds. In 2003/04 a fee waiver scheme was operated for part-time students through the discretionary Access to Learning Fund. This was replaced with the statutory fee grant in 2004/05.

Student Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 23 June 2005, Official Report, column 1169W, on further and higher education, what the estimated cost of grants for full-time students with dependants domiciled in England and Wales at UK institutions was for each academic year between 1999–2000 and 2003–04.

Bill Rammell: Available data are given in the table.
	
		Number of students domiciled in England and Wales at UK institutions in receipt of a dependants' grant, number of grants received, and related expenditure, academic years 1999/2000 to 2003/04
		
			 Academic year Number of students in receipt of a dependants' grant(104) Number of grants awarded to eligible students(104)(105) Expenditure on dependants' grants (£ million) 
		
		
			 1999/2000 15,500 27,000 42.6 
			 2000/01 20,400 36,900 59.5 
			 2001/02 23,900 54,500 86.6 
			 2002/03 24,300 59,500 97.8 
			 2003/04 27,900 n/a (106)57.2 
		
	
	(104) Rounded to the nearest 100.
	(105) The figures show the total number of grants received as a student can receive more than one type of grant.
	(106) Expenditure on dependants' grants for children is not included in 2003/04 since, in April 2003 child tax credits became available to individuals with dependent children, and this included students. To avoid double funding for the same purpose it was decided that it was correct to abolish the dependant grants for children from 2003/04 as students could receive the child tax credit.
	Source:
	F503G Survey of local education authorities and SLC.

Student Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total value of student loans outstanding has been at the end of each year between 1993–94 and 2003–04.

Bill Rammell: The following table shows the student loan amount outstanding for publicly-owned debt in the UK, at the end of each financial year specified.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount outstanding (£ million) 
		
		
			 1993–94 675.1 
			 1994–95 1,178.0 
			 1995–96 1,859.0 
			 1996–97 2,691.0 
			 1997–98 3,574.3 
			 1998–99 3,591.9 
			 1999–2000 3,992.5 
			 2000–01 6,043.2 
			 2001–02 8,394.0 
			 2002–03 10,827.5 
			 2003–04 (provisional) 13,364.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	The Statistical First Release "SFR26/2004 Statistics of Student Loans for Higher Education in the United Kingdom—Financial Year 2003–04 (Provisional)" published on 29 July 2004 gives further information on student loan outlay and repayments. It is available on the DfES website at:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000479/index.shtml
	Figures will be updated in the Statistical First Release "Student Loans for Higher Education in the United Kingdom—Financial Year 2004–05 (Provisional)", due to be published on 28 July 2005 by the Student Loans Company. It will be available on the SLC website at:
	www.slc.co.uk/noframe/corpinfo/natstat.html

Tuition Fees

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been raised from student tuition fees in each year since their introduction.

Bill Rammell: Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
	The amount of private contribution to tuition fees by students from England, Wales, and the European Union from 1999/2000 to 2004/05 is given in the table. This does not include Government expenditure on the fee remission grant.
	
		Private contributions to tuition fees for students domiciled in England, Wales, or the European Union for academic years 1999/2000(107) to 2004/05
		
			 Academic year £ million 
		
		
			 1999/2000 199.2 
			 2000/01 309.2 
			 2001/02 373.3 
			 2002/03 403.1 
			 2003/04 420.1 
			 2004/05(108) 435.8 
		
	
	(107) Tuition fees were introduced in academic year 1998/99, however as that year was treated as a transitional year, data are not available on the same basis as subsequent years.
	(108) Provisional (as at 31 March 2005)
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	Data do not include expenditure for those students who decide not to apply for any support with their fees and instead make the full payment direct to the institution.